Raring2go!lewisham

20 raring2go .co.uk Raring2go! A new educational pack, Nature’s Climate Heroes, has been launched to help primary school children understand the connections between the natural world, a changing climate, and people. Solutions to address climate change and wildlife loss should be fundamental to children’s education in the 21st century, say The Wildlife Trusts. The new handbook is designed to help teachers of children aged 7–11 and has been funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The project aims to address how climate change is taught in primary education by: Changing the focus of climate change from a scary and overwhelming subject to something that can be tackled through collective action. Providing teachers with a structured, comprehensive guide to deliver lessons about how human activities are connected to the changing climate, and why the restoration of nature is fundamental to our future. Empowering children to take small but collectively significant actions in their communities. Fiona Groves, Education and Learning Manager at The Wildlife Trusts, says: “The interlinked climate & ecological crises present the biggest challenges ever faced by humanity. This can be extremely daunting, especially for children with their whole lives ahead of them. “In this crucial decade for determining the future climate, we want children and young people to understand how nature can help us while empow- ering them to take action in their communities. It’s so important teachers have access to engaging resources that give them confidence to teach these issues and that children, as well as adults, feel able to make a difference.” Handbook for schools on climate change The Wildlife Trusts unveil new educational guides for children to learn about how nature can help tackle the climate crisis. Teachers can access the Nature’s Climate Heroes resources by visiting: www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/natures-climate-heroes Research in March 2021 by Teach the Future revealed that 70% of UK teachers have not received adequate training to educate students on climate change. The research also found: ● 92% of teachers are concerned about climate ● change ● 41% say climate change is rarely or never ● mentioned in their schools ● 17% say climate change is mentioned in core ● subjects other than science and geography ● 5% say climate change is integral to many ● aspects of the curriculum and teaching in ● their school. The Wildlife Trusts also want to see all children given opportunities to enjoy some lessons in natural spaces every week. Research recently undertaken in partnership with UCL, shows that spending time in nature has a hugely positive impact on children’s health and well-being. ● 79% of children surveyed felt that their ● experience could help their schoolwork ● 81% agreed that they had better relationships