Kaiako climate change curriculum resources

This page has many resources for you as kaiako to use in your early learning service or to learn more about climate change.

Find what you need under the following headings:

A child collecting up rubbish in the bush with a rubbish bag

Image caption: What activities are you already doing that could be extended around educating for a climate-changing future?

Activities and printables

If the earth was an apple activity (427KB PDF)
Enviroschools early childhood education climate change action survey (1.5MB PDF)
Education for a climate changing future – connecting Te Whāriki and Environmental Education for Sustainability (2.6MB PDF)
Fundraising and events in early learning with a sustainable lens (4.7MB PDF)

Curriculum links

Pages on this site with useful information

Sustainability

Kaitiaki waiata

Hāvalivaliga ma Toku Papa book

Science

Further early childhood resources

Te Papa's publication: It's a bug's life

Te Papa Tongarewa, in conjunction with three early childhood centres, has developed a comprehensive guide on scientific literacy, providing examples of practice, teaching strategies, and resources that align to the Ministry of Education’s five science capabilities. It explains: “Scientific literacy is essential in today’s society. By enabling young children to investigate the living world, you’ll help them to build confidence, broaden their interests, develop scientific thinking skills, and build knowledge”.

Te Whatu Pōkeka

This is a useful foundation for considering and discussing a te ao Māori worldview in relation to science in early learning services. It also contains examples of practice, some of which link well to promoting scientific thinking and learning.

Kei Tua o Te Pae – Book 13 Exploration

This is a useful foundation for considering and discussing a te ao Māori worldview in relation to science in early learning services. It also contains examples of practice, some of which link well to promoting scientific thinking and learning.

Stories of practice

New stories are regularly uploaded to Enviroschools website.

These stories highlight the mahi of many mokopuna and kaiako throughout the motu as they establish meaningful relationships, explore purposeful connections, and engage in mana-enhancing communication and actions, through learning in, about and for the environment.

Each story gives insights to practical and purposeful steps taken to as mokopuna develop and deepen their understandings of how to ‘tiaki’ (to care, protect, conserve, or save) the environment, through positive climate action, one purposeful step at a time.

These current stories of practice are from early learning services who are involved in the Enviroschools network.

Atua Māori bring sustainability to life

Growing together at Pinehaven Playcentre

Our haerenga

Getting to the bottom of zero waste

Wiping out waste with cloths

Books

You can download the following list of books as a PDF document.

Climate change resource books for kaiako (516KB PDF)

	Title: Aroha Author: Dr Hinemoa Elder A book full of timeless wisdom of Māori proverbs – 52 traditional Māori sayings explained by respected Māori psychiatrist Dr Hinemoa Elder, showing us how we can live better lives, in harmony with the planet.
	Title: Caring for the environment Author: Des Hunt This book explores how everyone can be good global citizens through case studies and practical suggestions. The I'm a global citizen series explores the concept of global citizenship: recognising that the world we live in is unfair and unequal, but promoting individual and collective action to challenge and change this.
	Title: Climate Aotearoa Editor: Helen Clark Contributions from a range of climate scientists and commentators Rob Bell, Jason Boberg, Adelia Hallett, Sophie Handford, Rhys Jones, Haylee Koroi, Matt McGlone, Jamie Morton, Rod Oram, Jim Salinger, Kera Sherwood-O'Regan, Simon Thrush, and Andrew Jeffs. This book outlines the climate situation as it is now, and as it will be in the years to come.
	Title: Climate change Author: John Woodward Get the facts about how our planet’s climate is changing and what the consequences will be. This guide explores earth’s climate, past and present, giving you the facts and figures behind one of today’s most urgent issues, and investigates what we can all do to make a difference.
	Title: How to talk to your kids about climate change Author: Harriet Shugarman With catastrophic global warming already baked into the climate system, today's children face a future entirely unlike that of their parents. Yet how can we maintain hope and make a difference in the face of overwhelming evidence of the climate crisis? This book provides both hope and practical ways to engage children in pursuit of a better world that is still possible.
	Title: Climate change (Inside bubble earth) Author: Des Hunt Favourite Kiwi eco-fiction writer, Des Hunt, presents the facts about the changes in the world’s climate and the effects of human actions in this non-fiction resource. What causes climate? What changes climate? Des Hunt takes us on an in-depth look at the science of climate and what we can all do to help the earth thrive.
	Title: Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature deficit disorder Author: Richard Louv This is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond – and many are right in our own backyard.
	Title: Listen to the earth Author: Carme Lemniscates Here is a new and original framing of climate change and how to respond to it. Listen to the earth describes and illustrates in child-friendly terms the global societal changes and actions. We know what to do; all that is needed is the will to do it. In this call to action, the path ahead is illuminated by an optimistic faith in kids.
	Title: Our world out of balance: Understanding climate change and what we can do Author: Andrea Minoglio This is an introduction to climate change and other global environmental challenges for children. It does not traffic in fear. Instead, it presents the facts and shows what young people can do to help build a cleaner, safer, and more equitable future for the planet.
	Title: Te taiao: Māori and the natural world Author: Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand In this richly illustrated book, Māori scholars and writers share the traditional knowledge passed down the generations by word of mouth. It provides a unique window on the relationship of the people of this land with their environment, as well as the profound knowledge and necessary skills they needed to survive here.
	Title: Teaching kids about climate change Author: Tim Grant This book is an essential toolkit for any educator looking for innovative programme ideas, games, and activities to engage children ages 6 to 14 in the topic of climate change. Its detailed, practical activities are designed to enhance climate literacy and to increase understanding and the many ways that individuals and communities can reduce their carbon footprint.
	Title: Indigenous Pacific approaches to climate change: Aotearoa / New Zealand Author: Lyn Carter Situating Māori Ecological Knowledge (MEK) within traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) frameworks, this book recognises that indigenous ecological knowledge contributes to our understanding of how we live in our world (our world views), and in turn, the ways in which humans adapt to climate change.
	Title: 10 ideas to save the planet Author: Giuseppe D'Anna One small action a day can make a difference. This book focuses on tips and everyday activities. It brings environmental conservation into your home, your classroom, and the real world.