climate experiments for middle school

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16 Meaningful and Hands-On Climate Change Activities for Kids

How to teach about our changing planet.

Climate change is one of those important topics that can be hard to tackle in the classroom. Some teachers face opposition from parents, communities, or even school curriculum requirements that deny the existence or importance of climate change. But it’s vital to give kids the facts by using climate change activities that help them understand what’s taking place—and why it matters. Try some of these ideas with your students, accompanied with discussion about what kids can do to help keep our planet healthy for years to come .

1. Inspire your students to think locally

Climate change can feel like an insurmountable problem to many students. How can they have a meaningful impact on this global issue? The right resources can make all the difference in helping young people see how they can take action in their own community to make a real difference. This climate action resource kit from World Wildlife Fund’s Wild Classroom contains an informative slideshow as well as several lesson plans that are a perfect place to start.

2. Take part in the World’s Largest Lesson

In partnership with UNICEF, World’s Largest Lesson promotes use of the Sustainable Development Goals in learning so that children can contribute to a better future for all. Learn more about their videos, lessons, and resources here.

3. Understand the difference between climate and weather

One common refrain you might hear is, “It snowed 20 inches today, so explain how global warming is real.” That’s when it’s time to tackle the difference between weather (the current conditions) and climate (the average of those conditions over time in a particular region). Make an anchor chart like this one from Hayley Taylor on Pinterest . Then try a sorting activity to help kids understand the difference between the two. You can make your own cards, or find them on sites like Teachers Pay Teachers .

4. Measure temperatures to learn about the greenhouse effect

Global warming is a key component of climate change, and it’s caused in part by an enhanced greenhouse effect. Climate change activities like this one show kids just what that term means. Place two thermometers side by side in a sunny spot. Put one inside a covered glass jar, and leave the other one outside. Observe the temperatures after about 20 minutes to see which is higher. Learn more about this activity at Kid Minds.

5. Meet the greenhouse gases

Now that kids have seen the greenhouse effect in action, introduce them to the gases that make it happen. These fun trading cards of the six major atmospheric gases teach students what they are and where they come from. Each card has two sides, showing the positive and negative effects of that gas. Get the free printable cards from NASA here.

6. Make edible greenhouse gas models

Dive deeper into the chemistry of greenhouse gases by making edible models from toothpicks and gumdrops. Science Sparks has all the details.

7. Do a climate change word search

Try this free printable word search to reinforce the terms kids are learning during climate change activities. It’s part of this larger free lesson plan from Woo Jr .

8. Eat some Earth toast

Show kids how too much heat can make things (like deserts and other inland areas) hotter and drier with this fun edible experiment. Kids use milk paint to create “Earth” from bread, then bake it in a toaster oven to see what happens. Learn more from Left Brain Craft Brain.

9. Learn about conditions affecting ice melt

The accelerated melting of the polar ice caps and glaciers is of huge concern to climate change scientists. This simple experiment shows how ice in water melts faster than ice on land. Find out more from Science Learning Hub. ADVERTISEMENT

10. Explore how melting ice affects sea levels

The North Polar Ice Cap sits on water, while the South Polar Ice Cap is on land. Learn which of these two can cause sea levels to rise with this experiment, perfect for a science fair project. Get the how-to from Science Buddies.

11. Simulate melting polar ice caps and icebergs

Ice-melting experiments are very helpful climate change activities for seeing sea level rise in action, so here’s another one to try. If you’re unable to perform this one in person, show National Geographic’s video instead .

12. Discover how melting sea ice affects animals too

Humans aren’t the only ones affected by global warming and sea ice melt. In this experiment, kids try to help model polar bears stay afloat as the ice around them starts to melt. Learn more from Kitchen Counter Chronicle.

13. Trap particles to learn about air pollution

Particulates in the air are another cause of global warming and climate change. This experiment uses Vaseline and index cards to capture visible particulates from indoor and outdoor spaces, so students can compare them. Get the details at Education.com.

14. Water plants with acid solutions

Acid rain isn’t in the news as much these days, thanks to the incredible effectiveness of the EPA’s Acid Rain Program . It’s still good for kids to learn about, though, since when unchecked, it can do real damage to plants and the environment. Try this experiment, in which kids water plants with regular water and a lemon juice–water solution, to see the effects. Learn how it works from Education.com.

15. Play the Carbon Cycle Game

Carbon is another big contributor to global warming and climate change. Learn how the natural carbon cycle works, and how too much carbon throws the cycle off, with this free printable game from COSEE .

16. Track your carbon footprint

Good climate change activities should include action items kids and their families can take. Explore the term “carbon footprint” and then brainstorm ways to reduce it with this cute idea from Kitchen Counter Chronicle .

Ready to do your part? Check out our big collection of Recycling Activities for Kids .

Plus, check out 20 wild ways to explore animal habitats ., looking for more articles like this subscribe to our newsletters to find out when they’re posted.

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News for students, guidance for school administrators, professional development, our partners, press and media, get involved, teacher guides, back-to-school, reading list, all teacher guides, 7 climate change hands-on activities to keep kids engaged.

Hands-on learning invites students to discover the world by engaging with it directly, something our brains are geared towards on a profound level. When you think over your time in school, what classroom activities do you remember the best? 

I’d be willing to bet that for a lot of people, the answer involves building something, cooking something, taking something apart, planting something, pouring one substance into another…in short,  getting your hands dirty.  Hands-on learning invites students to discover the world by engaging with it directly, something our brains are geared towards on a profound level. Why not harness this powerful pedagogical method to teach students about one of the most pressing issues of today: climate change?

Of course, when selecting climate change activities for students , you want to make sure that they really complement the material you’re covering. A well-chosen hands-on lesson can liven up class time, engage your students, and help them to understand the subject matter more deeply— plus, it’s likely to be fun. Building climate literacy in your students can be a lot of work, but we’re here to help. To start, check out these seven climate change hands-on activities.

Climate Change Inquiry Lab

Grade: 6th, 7th, 8th.

Subjects:  Science, Earth and Space Sciences

Resource Type: Lesson Plan

Bring climate science to life with accessible, tangible representations of our warming planet. This middle school  science lesson plan from My NASA Data uses three different experiments to illustrate three different (but linked) elements of climate change. In one experiment, students use plastic wrap to trap heat in a container, representing how greenhouse gases trap heat in the air.

A second experiment uses ice cubes in cylinders of water to represent how melting ice impacts sea level rise. In a third experiment, students partially cover water with foil to represent how sea ice keeps our oceans cooler by reflecting the sun’s rays. These three climate activities are a great way to help middle schoolers visualize the science behind global warming.

Footprint Calculator

Grade: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.

Subjects:  Science, Social Studies, Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Economics, Geography, Math, Justice, Climate Action

Resource Type: Interactive Media

Help make your students’ individual impacts on the planet more concrete with this  carbon footprint calculator  from Biointeractive. Students identify which human activities produce the most emissions, and then brainstorm ways to reduce their carbon footprints.

Art and Climate Action - Climate Heroes Unit

Grade: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.

Subjects: Art

Teacher asks students, "How can art and artists change society? What specifically is the role of art in addressing climate change?"

Investigate

Teacher shares slides of artists addressing climate change through their art. 

Students reflect and write about how art and artists can change society, specifically how art can be used to raise awareness about climate change.

This engaging SubjectToClimate high school unit plan consists of  three well-designed hands-on lessons  that combine art and climate activism. Students will investigate how artists use their platforms to spread awareness about the causes of climate change, discover what young people around the globe are doing to address climate change, and utilize this information to create portraits of youth climate heroes. 

Snack-Sized Science: Plant Your Paper!

Grade: k, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th.

Subjects:  Science, Biology, Art

Resource Type: Video

Get kids excited about reusing, recycling, and all-around resourcefulness with this plantable paper DIY from Earth Echo Academy . In a straightforward and adorable video, a mother-daughter duo shows how you can recycle paper using ordinary household materials. The end result can be used for writing or drawing-- or starting a garden! Elementary school students will be proud to take home papers they made themselves.

Looking for the latest free Climate Change game and activities to share in your class?

Take It to the Forest

Grade: k, 1st, 2nd.

Subjects: Science, Earth and Space Sciences, Health

Students complete an exercise warm-up and wonder about the question "Why am I breathing so hard?"

Students play a game focusing on exercise, the carbon cycle, and climate change.

Students discuss ways in which they can help address climate change, such as planting trees.

Why do we breathe hard when we exercise? What is the carbon cycle? How are trees related to air quality? Students will answer these questions through this  movement-based SubjectToClimate lesson plan . After monitoring their resting heart rate and breathing, students will exercise for three minutes and then check to see how their heart rate and breathing patterns have changed. As they stretch, students will think about what caused the changes in their bodies. Students will watch a video about the respiratory system before playing, "Take It to the Forest," a fun and active game that will teach students about the carbon cycle and the role that trees play in absorbing carbon dioxide. The lesson ends with a "stretch and chat" to discuss the important role that trees play in keeping the air healthy and to think of ways to address climate change. 

Climate Strike and Art Activism

Grade: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th.

Subjects:  Social Studies, Civics, Art, Climate Action

Resource Type: Activity

What better way to engage deeply with climate issues than by joining the fight for climate solutions? This  guide from ACE will help students in Grades 6 and up to create protest signs advocating for change . The guide was designed with the 2019 Climate Strike in mind, but it’s easily adaptable to other actions.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Subjects: Science, Biology, Math

Students investigate a small portion of the school yard, such as a square foot, to discover what lives and grows there and then work together to answer the questions “Why are plants important for the Earth and for people?” and “What do plants need to grow?”

Students watch a video about what plants need to grow and read a book to learn how gardening can transform a community and provide needed resources.

Students create their own classroom garden from common items found at school and in their kitchens and predict and measure plant growth.

Even though most students encounter plants every day, they may not be aware of how important plants are to their communities. In this SubjectToClimate lesson,  students will identify what plants need to grow  and the benefits that plants provide to communities. Students will get their hands dirty as they repurpose everyday objects into planters to make their own classroom garden, and they will practice their measurement skills by monitoring and measuring how much their plants grow. 

Direct engagement with climate change and climate solutions can begin in the classroom. Climate change activities invite your students to become active learners, allowing them to understand global warming more fully and develop the tools to address it. After all, you can’t theorize your way to a livable planet. To fight the climate crisis, we’ll all need to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. 

The Greenhouse Effect Experiment

When it comes to our environment, it is so important that our children learn about the effects of climate change. One way we can start to educate them on environmental sciences is through a simple science experiment that creates the Greenhouse Effect in a jar. This activity is fantastic as a homeschool experiment, science fair project , classroom demonstration, and most importantly, as part of Earth Day lessons.

Climate Change Science Experiment

What you will discover in this article!

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In recent years the climate crisis has become one of the most important challenges facing Earth and all of Earth’s inhabitants. Understanding how the greenhouse effect works is a fundamental lesson we need to be teaching all of our students. Throughout their lifetime they are going to witness massive environmental changes. Many of which, we have already seen in our lives. I can only imagine what is to come, and I know it weighs heavily on my tweens and teens. But through education and changing our practices and lifestyles, there are things we can all do to make a difference and protect our planet.

Let’s start with this science experiment that demonstrates the greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse Gas Science Experiment Video Tutorial

Check out our video of this climate change experiment exploring greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect. If you can’t see the video, it is likely blocked by an adblocker. You can also view it on the STEAM Powered Family YouTube Channel .

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

First off, we need to explain the term: Greenhouse Effect . A greenhouse is a building with glass for the walls and roof. That glass structure traps heat inside, making it a great place to grow plants where it stays all warm and cozy, even after the sun goes down or it is cooler outside.

Instead of glass, our planet is surrounded by an atmosphere made up of gases. Like a great big puffy coat of gas wrapped around the entire planet. The atmosphere traps the sun’s heat on the Earth’s surface making our planet perfect for living organisms.

The balance of those gases is delicate, and due to a number of different factors, in particular the burning of fossil fuels, that balance is being disrupted and it is affecting the quality of that protective layer around our Earth.

One of the most important greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide. When we drive our cars and burn fossil fuels like gas and oil, we are putting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This in turn causes more heat to be trapped on the Earth, leading to an increase in the average temperatures. This affects all living organisms, including humans.

The Greenhouse Effect Science Experiment

Now we know about the greenhouse effect, let’s do some science! For this experiment we are going to use our much beloved and simple, baking soda and vinegar chemical reaction .

5 Large Jars – Using all 5 jars provides an opportunity to apply scientific theory and the scientific method . Vinegar – White, standard vinegar is best. Baking Soda – Also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarb. Don’t use Baking Powder! It is a completely different chemical formula. You can learn more here about the differences between baking soda and baking powder . Measuring cups and spoons – Important for accuracy during testing. Plastic Wrap – Also known as clingfilm. It must be clear and able to seal tightly without tearing. I know we don’t want to use plastic, but in this case it is what we need for this science experiment. You can try it with other materials, but we struggled to get the desired results. You can always save the plastic and reuse it! Elastic bands – Large enough to fit over the mouth of the jar to secure the plastic wrap. Heat Source – You can use a sunny window sill if you live somewhere with lots of hot direct sunlight, or use a heat lamp, space heater, or in our case we used a heat vent/radiator. It just needs to provide lots of heat evenly between the jars. Thermometer – We have a non-contact infrared thermometer that worked perfectly. The kids LOVE using this type of thermometer in their science experiments but you can also use standard thermometers . If you use standard thermometers you will need one for each jar and a small knife or sharp scissors. Masking Tape and Sharpie – For labeling the jars

Prepare the Jars

Start by labeling the jars. You will want:

• Air (control)
• Vinegar (control)
• Baking Soda (control)

The fifth jar does not need to be labeled, that one you will also be doing the reaction in, but without the plastic covering. However, if you want to label it, go ahead!

The reason we are doing all of these controls, is that we want to show that it is not just the vinegar or just the baking soda, or just the chemical reaction causing our result. We want to prove it is the trapped carbon dioxide gas.

Prepare a piece of plastic wrap big enough to cover the mouth of the jar with a bit of extra down the sides so it can be sealed completely. Repeat for 4 jars. Also add an elastic band for each piece of plastic wrap.

Place plastic wrap on the air jar and secure it with an elastic.

Add 1/4 up of vinegar to the vinegar jar, then cover with plastic wrap and secure with an elastic.

Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the baking soda jar, cover with plastic wrap and secure with elastic.

Reaction Time!

This next step is easiest with two people. Have one person read with the plastic wrap and elastic. The other person will add the baking soda to the jar, then add the vinegar. VERY QUICKLY place the plastic wrap over the mouth of the jar and secure it with an elastic. We need to capture the gases from the reaction, so work fast!

Here comes the sun

Now place the jars in front of your heat source. Ensure they are positioned so they will all be heated evenly. We used a heat register/radiator to evenly apply heat. A windowsill in the bright sun would work well too. Leave the jars with the heat for 5 to 10 minutes. We tested at both the 5 minute and 10 minute mark.

This heat source is replicating the warming effect of the sun.

Chemical Reaction Comparison

While the four jars are warming, take your fifth jar. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1/4 cup of vinegar. Watch the bubbly reaction! After about 30 seconds take a temperature reading. What do you notice? Baking soda and vinegar is an endothermic reaction! This is extremely interesting in the context of this greater experiment.

Temperature check

After your jars are warmed, it is time to take temperature readings.

If you are using a non-contact infrared thermometer, have your students take temperature readings from each jar, we found it best to aim straight down into the jar.

If you are using a standard thermometer, make a small slit in the plastic top of each jar, just big enough to slip the thermometer in without letting too much air escape. Place a thermometer in each jar. Wait one minute, then remove the thermometer and check the temperature readings.

What do you notice about the temperature readings? Record your results!

Greenhouse Effect Results

The chemical reaction in the enclosed jar is warmer than all the other jars with plastic covering. Those control jars are all about the same temperature. The coldest jar is the chemical reaction with no plastic covering. So cool!

The Greenhouse Science

The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar is an acid-base reaction. Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid. When we combine them, they react in a bubbly, endothermic reaction. Endothermic means it becomes colder during the reaction.

Here is the chemical formula of this reaction

C 2 H 4 O 2  + NaHCO 3  -> NaC 2 H 3 O 2  + H 2 O + CO 2 (g) vinegar + sodium bicarbonate -> sodium acetate + water + carbon dioxide(g)

The carbon dioxide is a gas, just like it is in the atmosphere, where it is one of the greenhouse gases.

In this experiment we are trapping the carbon dioxide gas in the jar. When heat is applied, the carbon dioxide traps more heat in the jar than our controls.

Where this became really interesting for us, was when the kids realized the reaction was endothermic, as demonstrated in our open chemical reaction jar. That means our jar with the trapped carbon dioxide not only trapped heat, but it trapped enough heat to counteract the endothermic reaction, and still make that jar warmer than the controls.

That is one powerhouse of a greenhouse effect!

Troubleshooting

If you have problems with this experiment there may be a few things to look at.

First, make sure your jars are being evenly heated. Depending on how you heat your jars, certain jars my be getting more heat than others. If you are using heat lamps, you may want to ensure you have one heat lamp per jar and place them equal distances from each jar.

If you used a standard thermometer, make sure your slit is not letting too much of the carbon dioxide out of the jar, it will take the heat with it.

When the reaction is triggered, make sure you act fast to get that plastic wrap on there and trap those gases!

Learning More About Climate Change

We really enjoy learning from NASA’s incredible resources. They have an entire site dedicated to climate and kids called Climate Kids that is packed with learning resources.

If you have Netflix, definitely look for any documentaries by David Attenborough . My tweens and teens have watched many of his documentaries and learned so much.

Tackle more Earth Day and Environmental Sciences projects with your kids, with our collection of Earth Day Activities .

Climate Change and Environmental Sciences Worksheets

Enjoy learning about our planet and start putting your lessons to work to protect our home. The more we know, the better we can all work to project our Earth.

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Next Generation Climate for Grades 6-8

Next Generation Climate is a six lesson, interdisciplinary, middle school climate change curriculum that uses the Next Generation Science Standards as a framework.

Next Generation Climate is a six lesson, interdisciplinary, middle school climate change curriculum that has students investigate the cause of the global temperature change, research the major repercussions of climate change, and find out how they can monitor and minimize those repercussions. Next Generation Climate allows students to dive deep into graphs and data and practice the skills of argumentation and engineering design. This curriculum uses the Next Generation Science Standards as a framework and is also aligned to Climate and Energy Literacy standards.

In 2013, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were released as the most current, research-based way of educating students in STEM and preparing them for STEM careers. Much of the NGSS includes environmental content and human-induced climate change is included as a core idea. NGSS establishes high standards for delivering effective science and climate change education. They also challenge us to provide the professional development and instructional support in our curriculum resources and make NGSS accessible to educators in the classroom. Hands on learning, effective communication, making connections across all domains of science and other disciplines, an emphasis on including “all voices”, and the importance of developing a learning progression are not only integral to the NGSS, but have always guided Climate Generation’s development of educational resources.

NGSS offer an excellent framework for a new climate change curriculum because they include climate change, they encourage experiential learning through the practice of science, and because they integrate crosscutting concepts that connect learning across classes and time. Climate Generation’s Next Generation Climate curriculum was developed to meet a growing need for curricula materials that support the Next Generation Science Standards and that builds in the language and instructional support so that teachers can deliver activities consistent with the NGSS.

Students today will be tomorrow’s leaders and we have a responsibility to prepare them to be innovators of climate change solutions, nurturing their creative thinking and problem solving skills using the methods we know are the best. Next Generation Climate is an excellent resource to include in any middle school classroom looking to integrate climate change education.

Action Ideas , Climate Change Solutions , For Educators , Grades 6-8 , Green Careers , Math , STEM

• Weather vs Climate video
• Greenhouse Gas Effect video
• National Climate Assessment
• NCA Educator Resources
• Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change video
• Climate Change Adaptation and Adaptation and Mitigation video

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Funding for this curriculum was provided in part by Rahr Corporation, District Energy St. Paul, Andersen Corporation, the Avangrid Foundation, and Avangrid Renewables.

Copyright © Climate Generation. All rights reserved. Reproduction and distribution of this material must include attribution to Climate Generation. Alterations to content are prohibited.

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A companion activity to the drip drop music video.

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Analyzing tree ring data sequences.

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Balloon in a bottle, blue skies and red sunsets.

Carbon Dioxide Sources and Sinks Activity

Catching snowflakes, climate & water teaching box, climate impacts graph matching, climate postcards, climate variability card shuffle, cloud trivia activity, cloud viewer, clouds in the air: why are they there, clouds teaching box, clouds, weather, and climate teaching box, co2: how much do you spew, comparing planetary gases.

Connections in the Earth System

Considering flood risk, cool playgrounds, create a portable cloud, creating a twister in a jar, dark skies: volcanic contribution to climate change, demonstrating the thickness of atmospheric layers, detecting ultraviolet light using tonic water, digital teaching boxes, drawing clouds inside the lines, el niño teaching box, explore how cars lose control on ice, safely, exploring paleoclimate data.

Exploring the Dynamic Nature of the Sun

Feeling the heat, field projects: science in action, flash floods teaching box, flood chances, get the picture - clouds and climate, get the picture - severe weather, globe data explorations, globe weather, graphing sea ice extent in the arctic & antarctic, greenhouse effect teaching box, greenhouse gas game: using play to learn complex concepts, hunting for the pineapple express, hurricane resilience, hurricanes and climate, infusing science with the arts, interactive story map: return from catastrophe: moore, oklahoma, interactive story map: twister dashboard: exploring three decades of violent storms, it's just a phase: modeling the phases of water, jigsaw group research on the 2013 colorado floods, little ice age data analysis, living during the little ice age, looking into surface albedo, make a tornado, measuring density by bending light, mitigation or adaptation, mixing up parts per million (and billion), model a moving glacier.

Model Resolution Exploration

Modeling a weather front, modeling how air moves, modeling smog, modeling storm surge, modeling the behavior of air with bottles, modeling tree transpiration, modeling wind dynamics and forests, mountain rescue, name that air pollutant, natural records of climate change, not your usual pop, ozone attack, ozone in our neighborhood, paleoclimates and pollen, photon folks, planet magnet, plugged in to co2, plunger pull, project resilience, radiation and albedo experiment, rain measurements tell a story, raise the roof on urban heat, satellite storm search, satellites and the atmosphere teaching box, serial vs. parallel processing activity, shrinking ice, solving the carbon dioxide problem, sounding climate in the classroom, studying co2 from pole to pole, sun teaching box, sunshine and shadows, sunspots and climate, teaching with drones, the art of clouds, the disappearing pond, the magnetic sun, the nitrogen cycle game, the systems game, the very simple climate model activity, thermal expansion of water, tornadoes teaching box, torrents, droughts, and twisters oh my, tracking hurricane news, trees: recorders of climate change, up and away - bernoulli's way, urban heat: a new york city exploration, using satellites to learn about animals, virtual ballooning to explore the atmosphere activity, water cycle activity, waves of energy more or less, weather and climate data exploration, weather forecasting & satellites teaching box, weather in the news, what can a tree do for you, what do soda and the oceans have in common, whirling, swirling air pollution, whole body ozone chemistry, winter weather teaching box.

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20 Weather Activities For Middle School: Experiments And Resources

March 21, 2024 //  by  Kimberly Lange

These 20 activities, lesson plans, videos, and experiments will make learning about the weather a breeze for middle schoolers. From the Winter freeze to the Fall leaves; the Summer flowers to the Spring showers.

We will cover all types of weather, and weather-related concepts, and have a blast while doing it.

1. Weather Lesson Plans Straight From NASA

This collection of lesson plans from Nasa will help you teach your middle schoolers about complex weather systems and common weather phenomena. These resources build on each other and by applying all their newfound knowledge, they can make their own weather predictions.

Learn More:  NASA Climate Kids

2. Learn About Different Types of Clouds With a Cloud Cake

This yummy, hands-on activity will help your students visualize the different cloud types while learning the names and different levels. This lesson also includes free printables of cloud formations. So you can have your cake, and eat it too.

Learn More: The Pioneer Woman

3. Make Your Own Tornado in a Bottle

For this hands-on experiment, you will need a bottle of water, dish soap, and a tall narrow plastic bottle. This awesome weather activity will safely demonstrate the power and movement of a tornado, and how it is formed.

Learn More: Little Bins For Little Hands

4. Learn About the Cause and Effect of Weathering and Erosion

This STEM activity will help your students understand weathering and erosion, the difference between the two, and the impacts of rain on the ground. Erosion is the mass wasting of rock structure while weathering is the process where rocks dissolve rock pieces. You will need colorless gelatin, hot water, small rocks and sediments, and dirt with tiny gravel.

Learn More: The Natural Homeschool

5. Build Your Own Miniature Water Cycle

This interactive STEM activity will help your students to understand the water cycle and the important role that weather plays. You will need aluminum foil, plastic wrap, rubber bands, plastic shoe boxes, hot water, ice, and heat lamps.

Learn More: Sarah’s STEM Stuff

6. Make Your Own Barometer

Knowing about air pressure and its importance can help us to understand the weather. To make your own barometer, you will need an empty tin can, a latex balloon, a thick rubber band, a thin straw, a paper clip, glue, and a ruler.

Learn More: KC Edventures

7. Which Color Absorbs More Heat- Black or White?

You will need two glass jars filled with water. Wrap one in a black piece of construction paper and the other in a white paper. Place them both in the sun for a few hours and see which color jar is hotter.

Learn More: Lessons 4 Little Ones

8. Learn About Air Mass

This simple experiment will teach your students about a very important concept of weather – air masses. All you need is a coat hanger, two clothespins, and two balloons.

Learn More: Grade Six Mr. Polsky

9. Build Your Own Anemometer

With a few kitchen supplies, you can build your own anemometer to measure wind speed. You’ll need four paper cups, a paper plate, pencil, straw, pushpins, and some colored tape.

Learn More: Scout Life

10. Create a Draft

Learn how hot and cold air work together to create a breeze. You’ll need two metal baking pans, heatproof boards, a large cardboard box, dry sand, ice, an incense stick, scissors, and matches.

11. Weather Map Symbols

Teach your students how to be a real meteorologist with these weather map symbols. Knowing the correct symbols for these basic weather occurrences will help your students make accurate weather predictions.

Learn More: Pinterest

12. Lightning in a Jar

This shocking experiment will teach your middle school students about static electricity and how lightning is formed. You’ll need aluminum foil, a balloon, a dryer sheet, metal thumb tacks, and a glass jar. Turn down the lights to see mini lightning bolts form.

Learn More: FubardProductions

13. Become a Cloud Spotter

These fun interactive resources about different cloud types will teach your middle school students about cloud patterns and types in no time.

14. Make Your Own Wind Vane

This wind vane will show you the direction of the wind, which can help predict climate patterns and air pressure systems. You’ll need a plastic container, a pencil, a straw, a thumb tack, and construction paper scraps.

Learn More: Learning Ideas Grades K-8

15. Learn Why Leaves Change Color 

This colorful experiment will help your Middle School students understand why leaves change colors as the seasons change. All you need are some colorful Fall leaves, glass jars, isopropyl alcohol, and coffee filters.

Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

16. Layers of the Atmosphere Experiment

This interactive lab and Ebook will help your students understand where the weather is formed, and how the weather system works. You will need dirt, honey, corn syrup, dish soap, water, a clean container, and food coloring.

Learn More: Homeschool Rebecca Reid

17. Make Your Own Rain Gauge

One of the aspects of weather forecasting is predicting when it will rain but also how much it might rain. This backyard weather station activity will help you measure how much it had rained. You will need a 2-liter plastic bottle, small rocks, a permanent marker, and a ruler.

Learn More: News 24

18. National Geographic Will Teach Your Students About Climate Change

One of the biggest challenges we are facing is climate change. This educational resource will help your students understand what is climate change , what causes it, and what we can do about it.

Learn More: National Geographic Kids

19. Learn More About the Greenhouse Effect With This Miniature Model

This experiment will help your students understand what the greenhouse effect is,  climate change, how greenhouse gasses trap heat, and what the consequences are. You’ll need 5 glass jars, vinegar, baking soda, measuring cups and spoons, plastic wrap, elastic bands, a heat source, a thermometer, and a sharpie.

Learn More: Steam Powered Family

20. Make Your Own Thermometer

This interactive experiment will help your middle school students understand climate better as they learn how to read temperatures. You will need water, food coloring, play dough or sticky tack,  a measuring cup, clear straw, cooking oil, a glass bottle, and cooking oil.

Learn More: Lemon Lime Adventures

These 20 experiments, lessons, and activities will have your Middle School students become real meteorologists in no time.

• ⋮⋮⋮ ×

Teaching Climate Across the Curriculum

Supporting students in understanding climate change and finding pathways to a sustainable future necessitates teaching about climate both in and beyond science classrooms. Most mitigation and adaptation strategies are grounded in policy change, financial incentives, workforce development, engineering solutions, and civic responses. To support these strategies, educating and training a climate-ready next generation requires teaching in subjects such as English Language Arts (ELA), Social Studies, Math, and Art. 

CLEAN's Teaching Across the Curriculum collection offers K-12 activities, lesson plans, videos, and other resources for teaching climate in a variety of subjects.

Teaching climate topics in Math classes

Math resources include lessons on topics such as data interpretation, graphing, modeling, and statistics.

Teaching climate topics in Art classes

Art resources include lessons on fine art, music, theater, and dance.

Teaching climate topics in English Language Arts (ELA) classes

ELA resources include lessons on reading, writing, language, speaking, and listening.

Teaching climate topics in Social Studies classes

Social studies resources include lessons on civics, geography, economics, and political science.

      Next Page »

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• Top Weather Activities for Middle School Students

Ever heard students asking to “have fun” in your science classrooms? Us too. And many a times! 

So, let’s ditch the dull and dive into awesome weather activities that’ll have your middle schoolers obsessed! 

Forget the frustration of rote memorization – these 9 hands-on weather activities for middle school students will help light up their curiosity about weather science, leaving them leaning towards predicting the next rain shower or decoding the secrets of greenhouse effects.

Table of Contents

Why Teach Weather in Middle School?

Weather is a fundamental aspect of Earth science, intertwining with biology, chemistry, physics, and even geography. 

By delving into weather patterns and processes, we’re nurturing critical thinking, observational skills, and a deeper understanding of our planet’s intricate systems.

Let’s explore these 9 middle school weather activities to understand weather concepts and have fun with them. 

9 Fun Weather Science Activities 

1. diy anemometer construction.

Let’s construct a simple anemometer to measure wind speed and understand the basic principles of meteorology and engineering.

• 4 small paper or plastic cups
• 4 straws or wooden skewers
• A wooden dowel or pencil
• A small paper clip
• A hot glue gun or tape
• A stopwatch or timer
• Gather all materials in a well-lit, open workspace.
• Ensure safety precautions are followed, especially when using hot glue guns.
• Take each cup and poke a small hole in the center of the bottom.
• Repeat this process for all four cups.
• Cut each straw or wooden skewer into equal lengths, approximately 8 centimeters long.
• Insert one straw into each hole at the bottom of the cups, ensuring they’re securely attached.
• Arrange the four cups so that they form a cross shape when viewed from above.
• Use the hot glue gun or tape to attach the straws to the cups, forming the cross securely.
• Take the wooden dowel or pencil and attach the paper clip to one end.
• Place the other end of the dowel or pencil through the center of the cross formed by the cups.
• Ensure the paper clip rotates freely, acting as the pivot point for the anemometer.
• Use the ruler to mark equal distances along the lengths of the cups, starting from the center.
• These marks will help measure the rotation of the cups and calculate wind speed.
• Take the completed anemometer outside to an open area where there’s wind.
• Hold the anemometer upright, allowing the cups to catch the wind.
• Use the stopwatch or timer to measure the time it takes for the anemometer to complete a full rotation.
• Measure the time it takes for the anemometer to complete one full rotation.
• Use this time and the known distance between the center pivot and the cup edges to calculate wind speed.

Explanation:

This DIY anemometer works on the principle of rotation induced by wind force. As the cups catch the wind, they rotate around the central pivot point. By measuring the time it takes for the cups to complete a rotation, students can calculate the wind speed using simple mathematical formulas.

• Experiment with different cup sizes or materials to observe how they affect the anemometer’s performance.
• Discuss the importance of measuring wind speed in various fields such as meteorology, aviation, and renewable energy.
• Connect the construction of the anemometer to broader topics such as engineering design, weather patterns, and climate change.
• Use reading comprehension on winds to teach and revise local and global winds.

By building their anemometer, students can learn about the relationship between wind and weather while engaging in a hands-on science activity including creativity and problem-solving abilities.

2. DIY Homemade Barometer for Middle School

We will construct a homemade barometer to measure and learn atmospheric pressure and understand the basic principles of meteorology and weather prediction.

• A glass jar or plastic bottle with a wide mouth
• A balloon or rubber glove
• A rubber band or string
• A drinking straw
• A small piece of paper
• A pen or marker
• Ensure safety precautions are followed, especially when using scissors.
• Fill the glass jar or plastic bottle with water to about two-thirds full.
• Place the jar on a flat surface where it won’t be disturbed.
• Cut the neck of the balloon or rubber glove to separate it from the main body.
• Stretch the balloon or rubber glove tightly over the mouth of the jar, ensuring it forms a tight seal.
• Secure the balloon or rubber glove in place using a rubber band or string wrapped around the mouth of the jar.
• Take the drinking straw and tape it vertically along the side of the jar, extending from the mouth to the bottom.
• Ensure the straw is securely attached and doesn’t obstruct the opening of the jar.
• Use the ruler to mark equal intervals along the length of the straw.
• Number these intervals from top to bottom, representing the scale for measuring atmospheric pressure.
• Take a small piece of paper and write “High” at the top and “Low” at the bottom.
• Tape or glue the paper next to the scale on the jar, providing a reference point for interpreting the barometric readings.
• Place the homemade barometer in a location where it won’t be disturbed, away from direct sunlight and drafts.
• Observe the level of water inside the jar relative to the scale on the straw.
• Record the position of the water level and any changes over time.
• Use the recorded data to interpret changes in atmospheric pressure.
• A rising water level indicates increasing pressure (high pressure), while a falling water level suggests decreasing pressure (low pressure).

This DIY homemade barometer operates on the principle of atmospheric pressure exerted on the surface of the water inside the jar. As atmospheric pressure changes, it causes the water level to rise or fall, which is reflected by the movement of the straw. 

By monitoring these changes, students can gain insights into weather patterns and also predict short-term changes in the weather.

• Experiment with different jar sizes or water levels to observe how they affect the sensitivity of the barometer.
• Research the relationship between atmospheric pressure and weather phenomena such as storms, wind patterns, and air masses.
• Discuss the historical significance of barometers in weather forecasting and their modern-day applications in meteorology and atmospheric science.

By building and using their homemade barometer, students can explore the dynamics of atmospheric pressure and its role in shaping weather conditions. However, this project not only reinforces concepts in meteorology and earth science, but also encourages curiosity, observation skills, and critical thinking abilities.

3. Cloud Formation in a Jar

To simulate cloud formation in a jar and understand the principles of condensation and precipitation.

• A clear glass jar with a lid
• Boiling water
• Aerosol hairspray or a matchstick (optional)
• Gather all materials in a well-ventilated area.
• Ensure safety precautions are followed, especially when handling boiling water and aerosol hairspray or matches.
• Fill the bottom of the glass jar with boiling water to about one-third full.
• Quickly place the lid on the jar to trap the heat and steam inside.
• Place a few ice cubes on top of the lid of the jar.
• Observe as the warm air inside the jar rises and meets the cold surface of the lid, causing condensation to form.
• Cloud-like formations should appear inside the jar, resembling the formation of clouds in the atmosphere.
• To enhance cloud formation, you can spray a small amount of aerosol hairspray into the jar or light a matchstick and quickly extinguish it inside the jar. This introduces particles into the air, which act as nuclei for condensation to occur around.

This experiment will demonstrate the process of cloud formation , wherein warm, moist air rises, cools, and condenses into water droplets or ice crystals. 

Furthermore, the ice cubes on the lid of the jar mimic the cold temperatures found at higher altitudes in the atmosphere, where clouds typically form. 

Hence, by observing this phenomenon, students can gain insights into weather patterns and the role of temperature and humidity in cloud formation.

• Experiment with different temperatures of water and ice cubes to observe how they affect cloud formation.
• Additionally, discuss the different types of clouds and their characteristics, such as cirrus, cumulus, and stratus.
• Also, explore the factors that influence cloud formation in the atmosphere, including air pressure, humidity, and atmospheric instability.

By conducting the cloud formation experiment, students can develop a deeper understanding of atmospheric processes and the formation of weather phenomena. This hands-on activity not only fosters curiosity and observation skills, but also critical thinking abilities, while connecting to broader topics such as climate science and meteorology.

4. Creating a Mini Water Cycle

Creating a mini water cycle model will help middle school science students understand the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

• A clear glass or plastic container (e.g., a small fish tank or plastic bowl)
• Plastic wrap or a clear plastic lid
• Heat source (e.g., lamp or sunlight)
• Place the clear container in a well-lit area, away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
• Ensure safety precautions are followed, especially when using heat sources.
• Fill the container with water to about one-third full.
• Cover the container with plastic wrap or a clear plastic lid, ensuring it forms a tight seal.
• Place the container in direct sunlight or under a lamp to simulate heating and evaporation.
• Observe as the water heats up and begins to evaporate, forming water vapor inside the container.
• Place a few ice cubes on top of the plastic wrap or lid to simulate cooling.
• Observe as the water vapor inside the container condenses on the cooler surface, forming droplets.
• As condensation continues, droplets may coalesce and fall back into the water, simulating precipitation.

This experiment models the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, which are also the fundamental components of the water cycle. 

As water evaporates from the surface and rises into the atmosphere, it cools and condenses into droplets, eventually forming clouds. 

When these droplets become large enough, they fall back to the surface as precipitation, completing the water cycle.

• Experiment with different heat sources and cooling methods to observe how they affect the water cycle.
• Additionally, discuss the importance of the water cycle in regulating Earth’s climate and supporting ecosystems.
• Also, explore the impact of human activities on the water cycle, such as deforestation, urbanization, and climate change.

By creating a mini water cycle model, students can visualize and understand the dynamic processes that govern Earth’s water distribution. Also, this hands-on activity not only fosters curiosity and critical thinking, but also environmental awareness, while reinforcing concepts in earth sciences and hydrology.

5. Acid Rain Simulation

To simulate the effects of acid rain and understand its impact on the environment.

• Two clear glass jars or plastic containers
• Vinegar (acetic acid)
• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
• Food coloring (optional)
• pH test strips or pH indicator solution
• Small plants or seeds (optional)
• Place the two containers side by side in a well-ventilated area.
• Ensure safety precautions are followed, especially when handling acids and bases.
• In one container, mix water with vinegar to create a dilute acid solution.
• Optionally, add a few drops of food coloring to distinguish it from the other container.
• In the second container, mix water with baking soda to create a dilute base solution.
• Optionally, add a few drops of food coloring to distinguish it from the acid solution.
• Use pH test strips or pH indicator solution to test the acidity of each solution.
• Dip a pH test strip into each solution and compare the color change to the pH scale provided.
• Observe any differences in color or pH between the acid and base solutions.
• Note the acidity of each solution and its potential effects on the environment.
• If desired, you can conduct an additional experiment to observe the effects of acid rain on plant growth.
• Plant small seeds or seedlings in separate pots filled with soil.
• Water one group of plants with the acid solution and the other group with the base solution.
• Monitor the growth and health of the plants over time to observe any differences.

This experiment simulates the effects of acid rain, which occurs when pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water vapor in the atmosphere, forming acids that fall to the ground especially during precipitation. 

Overall, by creating acidic and basic solutions and testing their pH levels, students can understand the potential environmental impacts of acid rain on soil, water, and plant life.

• Research the sources and causes of acid rain, including industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and agricultural practices.
• Discuss the ecological consequences of acid rain on aquatic ecosystems, soil fertility, and biodiversity.
• Explore strategies for mitigating acid rain, such as reducing emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds and implementing environmental regulations.

By conducting the acid rain simulation experiment, students can gain insights into the chemistry and environmental effects of acid deposition.

6. Investigating the Greenhouse Effect

To investigate the greenhouse effect and understand its role in Earth’s climate system.

• Thermometer
• Place the two containers side by side in a well-lit area.
• Fill both containers with the same amount of water to about one-third full.
• Cover one container with plastic wrap or a clear plastic lid to simulate the greenhouse effect.
• Leave the other container uncovered as a control.
• Place both containers in direct sunlight or under a lamp to simulate heating.
• Monitor and record the temperature inside each container over time using a thermometer.
• Observe any differences in temperature between the covered and uncovered containers.
• Note how the greenhouse effect traps heat and raises the temperature inside the covered container.

This experiment will demonstrate the greenhouse effect, wherein certain gases in Earth’s atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat from the sun and warm the planet’s surface. 

By covering one container with plastic wrap to simulate a greenhouse, students can observe how trapped heat raises the temperature inside, compared to the uncovered container. 

Overall, this illustrates the role of greenhouse gases in regulating Earth’s climate and temperature.

• Discuss the causes and consequences of human-induced climate change, including increased greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.
• Additionally, explore strategies for mitigating climate change, such as reducing carbon emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and promoting energy efficiency.
• Also, investigate the potential impacts of climate change on ecosystems, weather patterns, sea levels, and human societies.

By investigating the greenhouse effect, students can develop a deeper understanding of climate science and its relevance to global environmental issues. Such earth science hands-on activities help students to not only take action to address climate change, but also inspire them to build a sustainable future.

7. Temperature Inversion Experiment

To demonstrate the concept of temperature inversion and understand its effects on air quality and weather conditions.

• Ensure safety precautions are followed, especially when using heat sources and handling cold objects.
• Optionally, add a few drops of food coloring to one container for visual distinction.
• Place one container in direct sunlight or under a lamp to simulate heating from above.
• Place the other container in a shaded area or near a cool surface to simulate cooling from below.
• Use a thermometer to measure and record the temperature inside each container at regular intervals.
• Record the differences in temperature between the two containers.
• Observe any differences in temperature between the two containers over time.
• Note whether the temperature in the shaded container remains cooler than the heated container or vice versa.
• After observing temperature differences, place a few ice cubes on top of the water in both containers.
• Observe any changes in temperature distribution and note how the presence of ice affects the air temperature inside each container.

This experiment will help to demonstrate the phenomenon of temperature inversion, wherein the normal decrease in temperature with altitude is reversed, causing a layer of warm air to trap cooler air near the surface. 

Additionally, by simulating heating and cooling conditions in the two containers, students can observe both, how temperature inversion affects air temperature distribution and influences weather patterns, air quality, and atmospheric stability.

• Research real-world examples of temperature inversions and their impacts on local weather conditions, air pollution, and human health. 
• Discuss the relationship between temperature inversions and atmospheric phenomena such as fog, smog, and haze.
• Explore strategies for mitigating air pollution associated with temperature inversions, such as reducing emissions from vehicles and industrial sources.

By conducting the temperature inversion experiment, students can gain insights into atmospheric science and the factors that influence air quality, weather and climate . 

8. Creating a Thunderstorm

To simulate the formation of a thunderstorm and understand the atmospheric processes involved.

• Clear glass jar or plastic container
• Shaving cream or whipped cream
• Blue food coloring
• Eyedropper or small spoon
• Place the glass jar or plastic container on a flat surface in a well-lit area.
• Ensure safety precautions are followed, especially when handling food coloring.
• Fill the container with water to about two-thirds full.
• Spray a layer of shaving cream or whipped cream on top of the water to simulate clouds.
• Use the back of a spoon to spread the cream evenly across the surface.
• Using an eyedropper or small spoon, add drops of blue food coloring onto the surface of the cream to represent raindrops forming within the clouds.
• Observe as the food coloring sinks into the water, mimicking the process of precipitation.
• Gently tap or shake the container to simulate atmospheric instability and the buildup of electrical charge within the clouds.
• Observe any changes in the appearance of the “clouds” and the dispersion of the food coloring.
• To simulate lightning, you can use a small LED light or flashlight to create flashes of light within the “clouds.”
• Shine the light beneath the cream layer to mimic lightning flashes illuminating the interior of the thunderstorm.

This experiment simulates the formation of a thunderstorm, wherein warm, moist air rises, cools, and condenses to form cumulonimbus clouds. As water droplets collide and coalesce within the clouds, they grow in size and eventually fall to the ground as precipitation . 

By adding food coloring to represent raindrops and agitating the container to simulate atmospheric instability, students can observe the dynamic processes that lead to thunderstorm development.

• Research the stages of thunderstorm development, including cumulus, mature, and dissipating stages, and the associated weather phenomena such as lightning, thunder, and hail.
• Discuss the impacts of thunderstorms on human activities, agriculture, transportation, and the environment.
• Explore safety measures and preparedness strategies for thunderstorms, including lightning safety tips and severe weather warnings.

By creating a simulated thunderstorm, students can gain insights into the atmospheric processes that drive weather phenomena and the factors that contribute to severe weather events. 

9. UV Radiation Experiment

Let’s help students understand the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and the importance of sun protection.

• UV-sensitive beads (available at science supply stores or online)
• Clear plastic cup or glass jar
• Sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor)
• UV flashlight or sunlight
• Place the clear plastic cup or glass jar in a well-lit area where it can receive direct sunlight.
• Ensure safety precautions are followed, especially when using UV light sources.
• Fill the cup or jar with water to about two-thirds full.
• Add a handful of UV-sensitive beads to the water in the cup or jar.
• Ensure the beads are fully submerged in the water.
• Apply a thin layer of sunscreen to one side of the cup or jar, covering about half of its surface area.
• Leave the other side of the cup or jar without sunscreen as a control.
• Expose the cup or jar to sunlight or shine a UV flashlight directly onto it.
• Observe any changes in the color of the UV beads over time.
• Note how the UV beads react to the exposure to UV radiation.
• Compare the color change of the beads on the sunscreen-applied side to those on the unprotected side.

This experiment not only demonstrates the effects of UV radiation from the sun on UV-sensitive beads, but also how they change color when exposed to UV light. 

By applying sunscreen to one side of the container, students can observe how sunscreen provides protection against UV radiation and prevents color changes in the beads. 

All in all, this highlights the importance of sun protection in reducing the risk of sunburn, skin damage, and skin cancer caused by UV exposure.

• Discuss the different types of UV radiation (UVA, UVB, UVC) and their effects on the skin and eyes.
• Explore factors that influence UV exposure, including time of day, season, altitude, and geographic location.
• Promote sun safety practices such as wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and sunglasses, and seeking shade during peak sun hours.

By conducting the UV radiation experiment, students can learn about the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun and the importance of sun protection measures. 

Explore Fun Science Activities with The Science Arena

Are your students not engaging or focusing on science classes with a typical lesson plan? We get it. 

Explore The Science Arena for a trove of activities, boom cards and task cards for science assessment , and editable pintables that will have your middle schoolers not only enjoying your science classes, but also wanting more of it!

We believe science should be action-packed and engaging, not just another line on a standardized test. Our resources are designed to help you lay the foundation of inquisitiveness in your science classroom and nurturing those curious minds to help them become scientific superstars.

So, ditch the dull and dive into the epic with The Science Arena !

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Toolbox for Teaching Climate & Energy

Teachers across the country are preparing to teach the science and engineering called for in the new standards designed to address major world challenges and opportunities.  Students will face issues, such as generating sufficient clean energy, building climate resilience for businesses and communities, maintaining supplies of food and clean water, and solving the problems of global environmental change that confront society today and in their future. The amount of time teachers are spending on these issues are going up significantly.

Figure 1: Alliance for Climate Education leader working with a group of students....

NOAA Climate.gov and a community of educational and science partners have developed and organized supporting resources and programs for those who want to teach climate and energy science, backed by some of the nation's most experienced professional educators, scientists, and engineers. The Climate Action Learning Process (CALP, below) provides a path teachers can follow to educate students about climate and energy science, develop the skills to take action, and then reevaluate teaching methods. A supporting toolbox (right) organizes and highlights resources from numerous teaching professionals and science partners all working toward supporting climate and energy education.

These science-based, interdisciplinary models of education and public engagement support learners of all levels and foster climate and energy literacy and action. Armed with newfound knowledge and skills, students will be able to develop their own action plans - in their own communities or on a global scale.

Climate Action Learning Process

Highlighted resources from numerous educational and science partners and programs that support the Climate Action Competence Learning Process. The resources in the toolbox are not comprehensive and will grow as new aligned and effective resources are identified. New resources can be nominated by sending them to  [email protected] .

• NGSS and CLEAN at a Glance for the Next Generation Science Standards tool - The interactive tables will NGSS Performance Expectations (PE) and Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) that address climate and energy topics. The tables include links to relevant CLEAN resources. https://cleanet.org/clean/educational_resources/clean-ngss/glance.html
• College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards - The result of a three year state-led collaborative effort, the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards was developed to serve two audiences: for states to upgrade their state social studies standards and for practitioners — local school districts, schools, teachers and curriculum writers — to strengthen their social studies programs. Its objectives are to: a) enhance the rigor of the social studies disciplines; b) build critical thinking, problem solving, and participatory skills to become engaged citizens; and c) align academic programs to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies. https://www.socialstudies.org/c3
• Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science (2009) - A guide that provides a framework and essential principles for formal and informal education about climate change. It presents important information for individuals and communities to understand Earth's climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting and mitigating change. Principles in the guide can serve as discussion starters or launching points for scientific inquiry. The guide can also serve educators who teach climate science as part of their science curricula. https://www.climate.gov/teaching/essential-principles-climate-literacy/essential-principles-climate-literacy
• Energy Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education - An interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning about energy. The framework identifies seven Essential Principles and a set of Fundamental Concepts to support each principle. The guide does not seek to identify all areas of energy understanding, but rather to focus on those that are essential for all citizens K-Gray. It presents energy concepts that, if understood and applied, will help individuals and communities make informed energy decisions. https://energy.gov/eere/education/energy-literacy-essential-principles-and-fundamental-concepts-energy-education
• Ocean Literacy Framework - Ocean Literacy means understanding the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean. There are 7 principles of Ocean Literacy — ideas scientists and educators agree everyone should understand about the ocean. Join the Network to build a more ocean literate society! http://oceanliteracy.wp2.coexploration.org/
• NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence: Best Practice in Environmental Education - The NAAEE National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education developed a series of guidelines that set the standards for high-quality environmental education. Each of these publications was developed by a diverse team of professionals, and each has gone through a substantive review by thousands of professionals prior to its publication. The Excellence in Environmental Education: Guidelines for Learning (K-12) and its companion piece, the Excellence in Environmental Education: Guidelines for Learning (K–12)—Executive Summary & Self Assessment Tool , were developed to support state and local environmental education efforts by setting expectations for performance and achievement in grades 4, 8, and 12. https://naaee.org/eepro/publication/excellence-environmental-education-guidelines-learning-k-12

(Critical Thinking for the subject matter, by pedagogy, with advances in science, and how society is successfully responding

• Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change - The Teacher-Friendly Guide™ to Climate Change is the newest addition to the Paleontological Research Institution’s Teacher-Friendly series. This book includes both the basics of climate change science and perspectives on teaching a subject that has become socially and politically polarized. The focus audience is high school Earth science and environmental science teachers, and it is written with an eye toward the kind of information and graphics that a secondary school teacher might need in the classroom. Print copies and a free PDF version are available here.
• CLEAN Guidance in Teaching Climate and Energy - These pages designed to help educators understand and be equipped to teach the big ideas in climate and energy science. https://cleanet.org/clean/literacy/index.html
• NWF’s  Eco-Schools USA -  Eco-Schools combines the effective green management of K – 12th grade school grounds, facilities, and curriculum to empower today’s students for a sustainable tomorrow. It is part of Eco-Schools , the world’s largest environmental schools network in over 64 countries. In addition to the direct environmental benefits of lowering the school’s carbon footprint and saving energy and water costs, the program provides a proven framework for improving student skills in STEM, promoting youth leadership and community service, and exposing students to careers in sustainability. The program provides 12 intersecting pathways for comprehensive learning and student action, such as energy and climate change . http://www.eco-schoolsusa.org/
• PBS Learning Media Forum on Digital Media for STEM Learning: Climate Education - This Forum on Digital Media explored how the stories and science behind these impacts are increasingly being integrated into classroom instruction and STEM education contexts, with a focus on digital media. Held at WGBH’s Brighton studio on Monday, November 9, 2015, this highly-interactive and fast-paced event examined emerging narratives in climate education, digital media tools and products that show unique potential for educational settings, and promising modes of engagement for students, teachers, and schools. All resources are available free to view in PBS Learning Media. https://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/forum-on-digital-media-for-stem-learning-climate-education/#.WphmgRMbM6h

Advances in science

• USGCRP National Climate Assessment (2018) - The National Climate Assessment (NCA) assesses the science of climate change and variability and its impacts across the United States, now and throughout this century. This assessment was written to help inform decision-makers, utility and natural resource managers, public health officials, emergency planners, and other stakeholders by providing a thorough examination of the effects of climate change on the United States. It was thoroughly reviewed by external experts and the general public, as well as the Federal Government (that is, the NCA4 Federal Steering Committee and several rounds of technical and policy review by the 13 federal agencies of the USGCRP). An expert external peer review of the whole report was performed by an ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).  https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/
• USGCRP Climate Science Special Report (2017) - The Climate Science Special Report (CSSR) is designed to be an authoritative assessment of the science of climate change, with a focus on the United States, to serve as the foundation for efforts to assess climate-related risks and inform decision-making about responses. In accordance with this purpose, it does not include an assessment of literature on climate change mitigation, adaptation, economic valuation, or societal responses, nor does it include policy recommendations. https://science2017.globalchange.gov/
• USGCRP Indicators - Indicators are observations or calculations that can be used to track conditions and trends. For example, businesses might look at the unemployment index as one of a number of indicators representing the condition of the economy. Similarly, indicators of climate change can communicate key aspects of the changing environment, point out vulnerabilities, and inform decisions about policy, planning, and resource management. https://www.globalchange.gov/explore/indicators
• NOAA Climate.gov News & Features - A popular-style magazine for the science-interested public covering topics in climate science, adaptation, and mitigation.   https://www.climate.gov/news-features
• NOAA Climate.gov Maps & Data - A gateway to reusable climate maps and datasets that document various climate conditions. The section aims to serve officials and professionals who need climate data to inform their decisions or compile a climate adaptation report. https://www.climate.gov/maps-data
• NASA Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet - The mission of “Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet” is to provide the public with accurate and timely news and information about Earth’s changing climate, along with current data and visualizations, presented from the unique perspective of NASA, one of the world’s leading climate research agencies. https://climate.nasa.gov/

How society is successfully responding

• U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit - The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit is a website designed to help people find and use tools, information, and subject matter expertise to build climate resilience. The Toolkit offers information from all across the U.S. federal government in one easy-to-use location. https://toolkit.climate.gov/
• C40 - A network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change. C40 supports cities to collaborate effectively, share knowledge and drive meaningful, measurable and sustainable action on climate change. http://www.c40.org/
• 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) is dedicated to helping cities around the world become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. http://100resilientcities.org/
• Georgetown Climate Center - The nonpartisan Georgetown Climate Center seeks to advance effective climate and energy policies in the United States and serves as a resource to state and local communities that are working to cut carbon pollution and prepare for climate change. http://www.georgetownclimate.org/

Develop competence and mastery in teaching climate change

Climate Generation Professional Development - Climate Generation believes that educators are critical messengers of climate and that energy literacy and climate change education is part of the solution. Build your comfort, confidence, and competence to bring climate change into your educational setting with our virtual and in-person training opportunities! https://www.climategen.org/what-we-do/education/professional-development/

Summer Institutes for Climate Change Education - At each Institute educators can expect to gain the tools and skills to bring climate change into your educational setting, whether it be a classroom, nature center, or museum.

AMS Education Professional Development - Enhance your knowledge of Earth system science and earn tuition-free graduate credit through AMS Education’s K-12 teacher professional development programs. Over 21,000 teachers have boosted their STEM expertise and impacted millions of students across the nation through these courses. https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/education-careers/education-program/k-12-teachers/

Project Atmosphere - Project ATMOSPHERE is the comprehensive teacher professional development program based on studies in the atmospheric sciences.

DataStreme Earth's Climate System - This STEM course undertakes a systematic study of climate, climate variability, and climate change. Participants will come to understand spatial variations in climate as it responds to mechanisms internal and external to the Earth system.

DataStreme Ocean - This STEM course explores the ocean in the Earth system. Participants study the flow of water and energy into and out of the ocean and the internal properties and dynamics of the ocean system. This includes interactions between the ocean and the hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and society.

DataStreme Atmosphere - Designed to train teachers to promote the teaching of STEM concepts through weather, this course focuses on the atmospheric environment, its interaction with other components of the Earth system and the implications of those interactions on humankind.

Maury Project - The Maury Project is a comprehensive teacher professional development program based on studies of the physi­cal foundations of oceanography.

• Do-It-Yourself Learning
• Conferences
• Web Seminars
• Virtual Conferences
• CLEAN Network Teleconferences
• CLEAN Teacher Webinar Series
• GLOBE Teacher Training Workshops
• Protocol eTraining
• Climate.gov Teaching Climate Professional Development - Teaching Climate offers learning activities and curriculum materials, multimedia resources, and professional development opportunities for formal and informal educators who want to incorporate climate science into their work. https://www.climate.gov/teaching/professional-development
• The Book Club
• Face-to-Face Workshops
• Stewardship Community (apply here )

Work across disciplines or Design active linkages to create relevant interdisciplinary curriculum experiences (Develop Educator Teaching Plan)

Understanding Global Change and Understanding Science - The Understanding Global Change web resource in development from the UC Museum of Paleontology at UC Berkeley will provide science educators with a conceptual framework, systems models, lessons, and assessment tools to guide the design of interdisciplinary global change curricula. Understanding Science provides resources to support the exploration of the nature and process of science. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/ugc-resources/ and https://undsci.berkeley.edu/

World Climate: Climate Change Negotiations Game - The World Climate Simulation is a role playing exercise of the UN climate change negotiations for groups. It is unique in that it uses an interactive computer model to rapidly analyze the results of the mock-negotiations during the event. All the materials and tools for World Climate are available for free and many are available in multiple languages. We encourage you to organize a World Climate Simulation yourself. https://www.climateinteractive.org/programs/world-climate/

• Project Drawdown - The project is one of the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. Their organization did not make or devise the plan—they found the plan because it already exists. They gathered a qualified and diverse group of researchers from around the world to identify, research, and model the 100 most substantive, existing solutions to address climate change. What was uncovered is a path forward that can roll back global warming within thirty years. It shows that humanity has the means at hand. Nothing new needs to be invented. The solutions are in place and in action. Their work is to accelerate the knowledge and growth of what is possible. http://www.drawdown.org/

Connect to resources and professional networks to sustain professional growth and as a support network

Educational Resources

• CLEAN Collection of Climate and Energy Science resources - The CLEAN collection, is an online database of 700 free, science and peer-reviewed, and ready-to-use educational resources for teaching middle, high school and undergraduate students about climate and energy.
• Teaching Climate Using the National Climate Assessment - NOAA's Climate.gov features a page of information about teaching with the Third National Climate Assessment , including background on the report, learning pathways to help educators utilize key messages and data, region-by-region guides, and other supporting education and communication resources. https://www.climate.gov/teaching/national-climate-assessment-resources-educators/2014-national-climate-assessment-resources
• Climate Generation Climate Change and Energy Curricula - Climate Generation offers a suite of Grades 3-12 curriculum resources in the form of curriculum guides, as well as online modules that can be downloaded for free. https://www.climategen.org/what-we-do/education/climate-change-and-energy-curricula/
• Alliance of Climate Education, Our Climate Our Future - Our Climate Our Future is an award-winning climate education resource for teachers and students featuring ACE’s signature mix of animation, video and interaction, including trivia questions, climate change lesson plans and more. ourclimateourfuture.org

Climate Classroom Kids - For younger students climate change can seem complicated and scary. That’s why age appropriateness is a vitally important ingredient of climate change education. How do you answer the questions children will inevitably raise about climate change? And how do you examine the topic in a manner that doesn’t frighten or overwhelm them? The best strategy is to provide young children with brief, accurate information at a level you know they can understand and relate to—and in hopeful ways. Climate 101 provides answers to real kids questions. The cross-curricular lesson plans are designed for grades 3-5, with extensions for younger and older students. https://climateclassroomkids.or

Climate Classroom for Years of Living Dangerously - Climate Smart lessons plans and resources correspond to the science and issues presented in the award-winning documentary series and offer a unique and timely interdisciplinary teaching opportunity. Their education initiative provides engaging and relevant video assets as part of the curriculum. Educators and students meet scientists, acquire knowledge and STEM skills necessary to meet academic challenges and graduate climate literate. https://climateclassroom.org

An Inconvenient Sequel Education - Their goal is to help students develop system thinking skills by leveraging the diverse perspectives and fact-based evidence shared in the film. Resources include a series of foundational climate science and civics lessons, case studies and action projects planning guide.  https://www.inconvenientsequeleducation.org

• EarthLabs - the EarthLabs project provides a national model for rigorous, engaging Earth and environmental lab science courses. These units illustrate a sequence for learning science concepts through data analysis activities, satellite imagery and computer visualizations, and hands-on experiments that illustrate processes of our Earth system. https://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/index.html
• WindWise Education - WindWise is broken into 5 main conceptual areas.   Each unit includes a variety of lesson plans, handouts, support and background materials.   While the lessons are not designed to be done in any particular order we do offer you some recommend pathways depending on your subject expertise and the time you want to spend teaching about wind energy. https://www.kidwind.org/windwise-1
• Young Voices for the Planet film series - The mission of the Young Voices for the Planet film series is to to limit the magnitude of climate change and its impacts by empowering children and youth, through uplifting and inspiring success stories, to take an essential role in informing their communities — and society at large, challenging decision-makers, and catalyzing change. https://www.youngvoicesfortheplanet.com/

Professional networks

• CLEAN Network - The CLEAN Network is a professionally diverse community of over 630 members committed to improving climate and energy literacy locally, regionally, nationally, and globally, to enable responsible decisions and actions. https://cleanet.org/clean/community/index.html
• NOAA Planet Stewards Education Project - The NOAA Planet Stewards Education Project (PSEP) provides formal and informal educators working with elementary through college aged students the knowledge and resources to build scientifically-literate individuals and communities who are prepared to respond to environmental challenges monitored by NOAA. PSEP also supports educators in the development and implementation of projects involving hands-on activities that conserve, restore, and protect human communities and natural resources. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/planet-stewards/
• Climate Generation’s #TeachClimate Network - The #TeachClimate Network brings educators together monthly to discuss climate change fiction (cli-fi) books, challenges and successes of implementing climate change education, and current climate change news.  https://www.climategen.org/what-we-do/education/professional-development/teachclimate-network/
• NWF EcoLeaders - The NWF Campus Ecology program has been working with colleges and universities for more than 25 years to protect wildlife and habitat through campus sustainability efforts. Recognizing that students are the catalysts for change, NWF Campus Ecology created NWF EcoLeaders - a leadership certification and career development program for college students and young professionals. https://www.nwfecoleaders.org/home
• Greenforce® Initiative - The National Wildlife Federation and Jobs for the Future are partners in the Greenforce® Initiative, an effort to strengthen the capacity of community colleges to "green" the skills of our modern workforce. https://www.nwf.org/Greenforce-Initiative
• NSTA Learning Center Forums - NSTA’s Learning Center allows educators to access excellent and engaging science content and pedagogical implications any time of the day or night – 24/7 – to fit their schedule. https://learningcenter.nsta.org/discuss/
• NSTA Group E-mail Discussions - NSTA’s lists are group e-mail discussions that allow members to exchange information in a peer-to-peer forum. https://www.nsta.org/membership/listserver.aspx
• NAAEE eePRO Climate Change Education Group - The NAAEE eePRO group discussion platform supports special interest groups and connecting people to discuss key issues related to all things environmental education (EE) including climate change education. https://naaee.org/eepro/groups/climate-change-education
• National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA) - NESTA facilitates and advances excellence in K-12 Earth and Space Science education, serving a diverse population of learners in formal and informal settings. https://serc.carleton.edu/nesta/index.html
• National Association of Geoscience Teachers - NAGT members are committed to teaching excellence and the preparation of productive, responsible citizens who understand the complexity and vulnerability of the planet that sustains all of us. https://nagt.org/nagt/about/index.html
• ACE Teacher Network - ACE’s Teacher Network is an active group of over 10,000 educators in all 50 states. As a member, you'll receive our monthly newsletter, Hot Planet, Cool Teachers, bringing you the latest in climate news, climate and energy lesson plans, teacher professional development and updates from ACE.   https://acespace.org/join/teachers
• NCSEteach - NCSEteach is the National Center for Science Education’s first program developed just for educators. They recognize that teachers are at the forefront of science education. Without them we would have no doctors, no researchers, and no citizens with a love and devotion to the scientific enterprise. They also recognize that there can be numerous challenges to teaching evolution and climate change that teachers must navigate, from angry and confused students, teachers, and administrators to a lack of available professional development. Teachers have a hard job, and NCSE wants to help any way we can. https://ncse.com/teach
• National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) - NNOCCI is a network of individuals and organizations in informal education, the social sciences, and climate sciences. We are currently working in 170 institutions in 38 states. We share a commitment to using evidenced-based communications methods and providing the social and emotional support needed to engage as climate communicators. By working together we develop the knowledge, techniques, community and confidence needed to empower our audiences. And by speaking about climate change consistently across the country we are changing public discourse to be positive, productive and solutions-focused. https://climateinterpreter.org/about/projects/NNOCCI

Nurture action competence

• Climate Generation Climate Convenings Toolkit - When it comes to implementing climate change solutions, local communities are powerfully positioned to create an undercurrent of momentum and ambitious pathways to change that our national and global leaders cannot easily ignore. Yet in many communities, there are significant gaps in climate literacy, political will, and awareness of tangible climate action opportunities. To bridge this gap, Climate Generation has developed a best practices guide that shares our model and method for hosting public convenings on climate change at the community level.   https://www.climategen.org/what-we-do/education/public-engagement/climate-convenings-toolkit/
• KidWind Challenge - While this is called a KidWind Challenge, they tend to think of it more like a celebration of wind power. The overall goal is to have fun building a device that converts moving wind into electricity. If along the way you learn some physics, engineering, environmental science and policy -- that is great! https://www.kidwindchallenge.org/
• ReCharge Labs - REcharge Labs generates resources for learners to creatively explore wind and solar power. We engage and inspire today’s K-12 students, educators, makers, and tinkerers to become the innovative renewable energy leaders of tomorrow by offering effective hands-on activities and kits, educator professional development, online engineering design challenges, and lessons. http://www.rechargelabs.org/
• Alliance of Climate Education (ACE) Action Fellowship - The North Carolina Action Fellowship teaches students the knowledge and skills to be confident climate leaders. Fellows are high school students or recent ACE graduates who meet in Raleigh weekly over the course of the school year. 40 high school students have graduated from the fellowship in NC over the past 3 years. https://acespace.org/fellowship

An Inconvenient Sequel Education - Our goal is to help students develop system thinking skills by leveraging the diverse perspectives and fact-based evidence shared in the film. https://www.inconvenientsequeleducation.org

Enter the  School Climate Solutions Challenge  - We are asking teachers and students from grades 6 to 12 to plan and submit their best climate solution ideas for their school, after-school program, team or club. We are looking for innovative project ideas that will reduce carbon emissions and help your school and your community prepare for problems caused by climate change, interact with decision-makers, and take full advantage of the career opportunities the climate resilient future holds. https://www.inconvenientsequeleducation.org/climate-solutions-challenge/

The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Summit model - Looking to host a summit of your own? No matter where you’re located in the world, the Wild Center’s Youth Climate Summit model is a replicable, scalable model that any organization can base their own summit off of. To get you started, they’ve compiled a helpful Youth Climate Summit toolkit and appendix for you to download and start planning your own climate summit. https://www.wildcenter.org/our-work/youth-climate-summit/youth-climate-summit-toolkit/

Assess, Revise and Share Effective Practice 

Building the capacity of students and teachers have been shown to have the greatest cost-benefit value for adaptation to climate change (Lutz et al. 2014). But while education can be one of the most efficient mechanism for changing individuals and communities climate related actions and improving climate literacy, it is still emerging how to best deliver it (Mochizuki and Bryan 2015).

While many education programs around the world have done an excellent job building students’ knowledge around the causes of climate change, limited evidence exists that this knowledge is sufficient to change the actions responsible for climate change (Eilam and Trop 2012). Ironically, it is often the most educated that lead the most carbon intensive lifestyles, suggesting it is not more education that is needed, but different education. As this different and more effective educational practice is developed, educators and program developers can connect with others to share what works. The diverse professional networks above in step 5 are places where this new form of education is already being developed.  

Figure 3: ASU/MOS

Building Sustainable Communities

Communities are stepping up to address climate change impacts, serving as the primary incubators of social innovation and generating new strategies for sustainable living. Teachers can build knowledge of climate science and energy infrastructure, and encourage individuals to gain the skills, attitudes, and motivations they need to build sustainable communities. Tomorrow’s workforce must be able and willing to solve urgent challenges, such as climate change.

Building A Community Committed To Improving Climate And Energy Know-How

The CLEAN Network is a professionally diverse community of over 640 members committed to improving climate and energy literacy locally, regionally, nationally, and globally, to enable responsible decisions and actions. The two main methods of engagement in the CLEAN Network are a email list and participation in the weekly teleconference highlighting important programs and initiatives. Other activities of the CLEAN Network include providing feedback on relevant national-scale documents, engagement through professional meetings, and outreach through postings on the CLEAN Facebook page and informational webinars.  Join the CLEAN Network

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Climate Change Resources for Educators and Students

The earth’s climate is changing. While the planet’s climate has changed before, this time is different. People are causing these changes, which are bigger and happening faster than any climate changes that modern society has ever seen.

This page provides federal and non-governmental resources for  students and educators  to learn about and teach climate change.

On this page:

Federal Resources for Educators

Federal resources for students, other educational resources.

• Climate Change Indicators : This website describes observed changes in the environment, society, and ecosystems. An easy-to-understand, data-rich resource for teaching about causes and effects of climate change.
• Climate Change Science : Learn about the science of climate change with information on climate change basics and causes.
• Climate Change Impacts : Explore information on climate change impacts to communities, ecosystems, and industries in the United States.
• What You Can Do About Climate Change : Find and share strategies for taking individual climate action with students or peers.
• Generate!—Board Game on Climate Change : This interactive board game enables players to explore energy choices and the environment and gets students “energized” in some friendly competition.
• ENERGY STAR Kids : Find out why energy efficiency is so important to addressing climate change and what you can do to help.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Climate Education This site is NOAA’s gateway to many of their educational pages for students and teachers on earth sciences, including climate change.

NOAA Climate.gov This site provides learning activities, curriculum materials, and multimedia resources for teaching about climate and energy.

NOAA: Data in the Classroom This site hosts curriculum modules that demonstrate techniques for using real climate change data in the classroom.

NOAA National Ocean Service Education Content and Modules This site provides students and educators with ocean, coastal, and climate literacy resources, including activities on ocean and climate literacy, sea level rise, and increasing your city’s resilience to climate change.

National Park Service Lesson Plans Search through lesson plans about America’s National Parks, including lessons about how they are being affected by climate change.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Global Climate Change in Perspective Learn about global climate change now and across geologic time, and access related resources, including study guides and videos.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Hot Potato: Climate Change, Food Systems, and You This site provides access to a museum-educator-led virtual program examining the relationship between climate and food systems, as well as other videos and resources related to climate change.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Find articles, videos, and resources about forests and climate change, including tips on using Forest Service research in the classroom.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): Resources for Educators A collection of resources in English and Spanish on energy efficiency and renewable energy, including videos, lesson plans, and coloring books.

Elementary to Middle School

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Climate Kids Explore this interactive website with activities, articles, videos, and more about climate change, why it is happening, how it is impacting the earth, and how and why NASA studies the planet.

U.S. Energy Information Administration: Energy Kids Learn about different energy sources and get tips to save energy in your home. Then test your energy knowledge with fun games and quizzes.

Middle to High School

NASA: Eyes on the Earth With this app, monitor the earth’s vital signs, such as sea level height, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, and Antarctic ozone.

NASA: SciJinks Explore the world of weather through games, videos, downloadable posters, bookmarks, and more.

Content on non-Federal websites is not endorsed by EPA and is not subject to Federal information quality, privacy, security, and related guidelines.

American Museum of Natural History: OLogy Check out some of these games, stories, hands-on activities, and videos for learning about climate change.   Environmental Solutions Initiative at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (ESI at MIT): TILclimate Guides for Educators These “Today I Learned: Climate” guides comprise flexible, ready-to-use activities for high school teachers, designed to bring concepts from energy to hurricanes to food into the classroom. They are an extension of the TILclimate Podcast series and complement other learning resources on the MIT Climate Portal .   National Geographic Find lesson plans, articles, activities, and more for K-12 educators on earth science, climatology, conservation, and geography. Activities geared directly to students can be found at National Geographic Kids .  

• Climate Change Home
• What EPA Is Doing
• Partnership Programs
• What You Can Do

Middle School Weather and Climate Activities

Add some weather and climate activitie s to your science or geography lesson plans .

It isn’t always easy getting kids interested in this subject. Sometimes it has nothing to do with the material, it’s the way it’s being presented. To make it more interesting, when you’re teaching students about the weather and climate, try these hands-on activities.

They’re simple, fun, and sure to keep middle schoolers engaged. Getting kids interested in climate boils down to catching their attention. 

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Table of Contents

Weather Activities for Middle School

The study of weather and climate is an important part of your child’s science and geography studies, but often families teach it in elementary school and never revisit it.

As you know, middle schoolers are able to understand material differently now that they’re older, so it’s probably time to take another look at this interesting subject.

With the current issues facing our environment, it’s important that our kids take an active role and that starts with education.

These projects will let tweens have fun while diving deeper into the subject material. And you’ll love how easy they are to add to your homeschool lesson plans.

DIY Weather Instruments

To help your kids learn about the different tools used to provide predictions, have them build their own weather tools . 

With few supplies, teens can easily make their own

• psychrometer

One of the great learning opportunities with this project is letting kids figure out which tool they’ll need to use based on what they want to measure.

It’s a simple activity that can help kids better understand the differences between the tools used in meteorology. 

Printable Weather Activities

Experiments are a great way to let kids interact with the material they’re studying. With these printables, you can teach your children about weather and climate while keeping them engaged. 

Our favorite project was definitely making our own weather station . We chose 4 different tools to measure various parts of our local climate, including a barometer, thermometer, wind vane, and rain gauge.

Making these objects was the first part of the activity. Then, we used them to measure particular variables over the course of two weeks to get a feel for our local conditions.

We tracked it all on a printable weather data sheet.

Hands-on Meteorology Projects

Here are two fun activities that are sure to get your tweens excited about this subject. They’re both easy to do at home and make excellent additions to your lesson plans.

• Teach your kids how clouds form by having them make their own clouds in a jar . All you need is a glass jar, warm water, hair spray, and some ice to create this cool reaction. 
• Build your own volcano to teach how the weather can cause them to erupt. They can create custom chambers before combining ingredients, including baking soda, dish soap, and food coloring.

These are only two of the many projects that are suitable for tweens.

Building Earthquake Resistant Structures

A fun STEM project that will definitely encourage your tweens to use some creativity is building an earthquake-proof structure.

First, spend some time going over the science behind earthquakes and have your kids learn about what makes these the top earthquake resistant structures .

For this project, you can use all kinds of tools and methods. Some of our favorites was this one out of playing cards , building towers from spaghetti and marshmallows , and the classic using straws and paperclips .

Have your older kids construct something they believe can withstand the pressure from an earthquake, then test it out.

It’s a fun way for kids to put everything they’ve been learning into practical use.

As you can see, there are lots of cool hands-on activities you can use in your homeschool to teach your kids about weather and climate.

Weather Related Resources

• Make it incredibly simple to study weather science with your tweens with this kit.
• This book from National Geographic has all kinds of cool weather facts and information included.

What’s your favorite middle school weather activity?

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