This week is Climate Week in New York City.  Many world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, are gathering at the United Nations for a summit about global warming and other issues related to climate change.  Perhaps you’re already planning to include lessons about climate change in your teaching this week as a current event connection. If not, we have some ideas to help.

How can you connect your students to the issue of climate change so that they are inspired to make a difference?

To start with, they can see what other students are up to with the Young Voices for the Planet video series. This series showcases how kids around the world are making a difference on their own or together with their schools. By watching kids in action, your students may feel compelled to start a climate change project of their own.

This video series, produced by author, illustrator and video producer Lynne Cherry, captures the imaginative and innovative steps that regular kids are taking to help the planet. In her videos, Lynne unveils each story with narratives from “young voices”—explaining what motivated them to get involved, how they began and executed their projects, and, finally, how their communities reacted to their actions. The series gives viewers a glimpse of what’s possible, and how small ideas can make great, positive change. See more videos at the Young Voices for the Planet YouTube Page.

National Geographic Education‘s collection of classroom resources on climate change can help you teach about this all year long, and it’s also free. This collection contains videos, photos, and mapping tools that allow you to explore the topic of climate change.

DO TELL us if you have used this content in the past, what has resonated with your students? If you are new to this collection, what are you excited to use? This feedback is invaluable, and will help us create powerful, and effective resources for you to share with your students for years to come.

We invite you to explore these resources and we hope to help you inspire your students. Let’s work together to help our planet.