Civics and Climate Action Student Lab
Provided by: The Climate Initiative|Published on: October 9, 2023|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Civics
Authors: The Climate Initiative
Location: Earth, North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > District of Columbia > Washington, North America > United States > Maine, North America > United States > Montana
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This student-facing resource contains interactive media to virtually explore the nation's capital and multiple videos that explore the three branches of American government, the youth climate movement, and how young people can influence climate policy.
- A comprehensive teacher guide (Learning Lab), including six lessons that go along with this student resource, can be utilized to create an entire civics unit for your classroom.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Students will get to see an interview with two high school students, covering a multitude of topics such as youth-created policy change, climate change as a generational justice issue, and narratives used to distract the public from the fact that climate change is a systemic issue.
- The Held v. State of Montana case is used as a real-life example for how youth can be involved in climate policy through lawsuits.
Additional Prerequisites
- It may be beneficial for students to have a background in federalism and the federal legislative system.
- Students should understand what climate change is and that many human activities are driving climate change.
Differentiation
- The videos can accompany a brainstorming session where students consider how they can advocate for changes in climate policy.
- This resource can augment a classroom activity where students investigate the climate policies of their local and state governments.
- This resource can support a lesson on how cases move through the state and federal court systems.
- This resource can enhance a lesson on the history of American youth activism.
This resource from The Climate Initiative is an excellent resource for any classroom discussion about climate change. A Bitmoji classroom provides an interactive way for students to learn about climate change, climate policy, energy efficiency, and environmental justice. In addition to the Bitmoji classroom, there is a virtual tour of the three branches of government and how they affect climate policy. Additionally, policy toolkits are provided to help students bring climate policy to their local communities. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
