SubjectToClimate's Mission: Save the Planet through Education

When we talk about climate change, renewable energy and electric cars often steal the spotlight. But let's not underestimate the power of education. Climate change is a complex issue, and no single approach can solve it. We know, education is not as buzzworthy as technological innovation, but we think that climate change education deserves a lot more credence, attention and prioritization than it’s currently getting. That's why we believe that widespread climate change education can make a significant impact on how we tackle this challenge.

Allow us to introduce ourselves.

We are SubjectToClimate, a nonprofit online connector for K-12 educators of all subjects to find credible and engaging materials on climate change at no cost.

Our mission is simple: make climate change teaching and learning accessible to all. By enabling educators from all subjects and grade levels to teach about climate change, we believe that the next generation will be informed and inspired to take action to mitigate climate change.

Our core platform (subjecttoclimate.org) launched on August 1, 2021, and we now host over 2,100 climate change related teaching materials for educators. Everything on our site is free. We work with communities of educators who develop lesson plans and review resources that meet state specific standards. Our team of climate scientists verify the credibility of every resource, video, and lesson. Additionally, we have launched four customized state hubs in New Jersey, Oregon, Maine, and Wisconsin.

Collaborating with educators ensures that our materials are relevant and complementary to their classrooms. For example, students can learn to draw graphs by graphing temperature changes in their local area, while physical education classes can incorporate exercise stations that demonstrate how human activities impact CO2 levels in the atmosphere. We value that all of SubjectToClimate’s original lesson plans are created by teachers, for teachers. Our goal is to ensure that educators of all subjects and grade levels can easily find exactly what they need on our website.

So far, our strategy seems to be working. Since launching in August 2021, 85% of our users have been able to find a resource fit for their classroom.

In a case study conducted at Dr. Owen Lloyd Knox Elementary School, a Visual and Performing Arts magnet and Title I school in Los Angeles, students who completed one of our interdisciplinary units demonstrated a deeper understanding of climate change. They also exhibited behavioral changes, such as reminding others to conserve water and preserve green spaces (read more in our impact case study).

Furthermore, educators who utilized our New Jersey Hub reported feeling more prepared to teach climate change, integrating it into their classrooms more frequently. NJ Hub users also engaged in more professional development on climate change education.

Evaluating the efficacy of our programs remains a top priority. We are learning from each state Hub launch and applying these insights to future expansions.?

Take, for example, New Jersey, where state learning standards now require climate change integration in every subject and grade level. Our Hub was designed to support educators in implementing these standards effortlessly (you can read more about the implementation of the standards in our New Jersey case study).?

In Maine, House Paper 1409 led to a state allocation of $2 million to fund professional development on climate change education. SubjectToClimate worked with a consortium of Maine education and climate change organizations to create a Hub to help implement the state’s professional development goals, along with the Maine Department of Education’s Environmental Literacy Plan.?

Similarly, Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction and Milwaukee Public Schools partnered with us to workshop a Hub, referencing Wisconsin’s Standards for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability as well as other WI academic standards.?

On the other hand, in Oregon, where climate change education Senate Bill 854 stalled in committee, we developed the Hub to provide broad support to teachers ahead of any potential legislation or other state policy changes.?

We actively seek partnerships with other organizations in the field of climate change education. If you're working on this critical issue, please reach out—we'd love to collaborate.