Tops tips for explaining carbon footprints to children

Climate change can be a tricky concept even for adults, so it’s understandable that children can struggle to wrap their heads around the idea of a carbon footprint. For educators, teaching children about the importance of eco-friendly living is a growing concern.

The UK Government has initiated a strategy to have nominated sustainability leads in all educational settings by 2025, but many teachers feel they need more support to confidently teach their pupils about the climate and sustainability.

To help, let’s delve into some top tips for explaining carbon footprints to children in the classroom.

Keep it simple

As always, keeping the information you’re explaining as simple as possible and using age-appropriate language is your first port of call. Start with the basics by teaching children what carbon is, and how it is used by animals and plants. Visual aids can be really useful to help children understand gases and their roles in our universe – NASA even has some kid-friendly resources which help explain the science behind climate change.

While explaining the role of carbon in our atmosphere, be sure to cover the greenhouse effect, and how this causes unnatural changes to ecosystems and environments. You could then plan activities which instruct the children on how to calculate their carbon footprint or watch age-appropriate videos to further explain how carbon impacts the world around us.

Focus on solutions

Of course, the goal isn’t to scare the next generation but to enlighten and empower them to make positive changes to protect the planet. By focusing on solutions, you can avoid overwhelming the children or making them feel like the damage done is irreversible. It is, however, crucial to discuss the impact of burning fossil fuels, mining, deforestation and other industrial processes that contribute massively to the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

One way to make carbon footprints feel more relatable is to help children understand what is in their power to control. Most children these days are no strangers to technology, with 88% of 12-year-olds having their own smartphones or devices. Encourage them to think of practical ways to reduce their own carbon footprints. Could they cut down on screen time? Or switch their settings to use less data when scrolling social media? While it can be less obvious, the carbon footprint of digital technologies and storage centres required to keep them running plays a significant role in the overall health of our planet.

Lead by example

As a school, getting involved in eco-friendly campaigns and sharing sustainable initiatives such as recycling, how you manage food waste, and how you support renewable energy with your pupils can help set a clear example for them to follow. Creating an open environment where suggestions are taken seriously and the whole school community takes responsibility for their carbon footprints will make a huge difference in turning the conversation from a theoretical concept into an actionable reality.

By providing educational resources and regularly checking to see what sustainable practices or habits each person is incorporating into their lifestyles, you can help make environmental awareness a core value for each child.

The author

Harriet Young

Harriet enjoys going on hikes and connecting with nature with her two Labradors. Though she enjoys being vegan, she is adventurous and enjoys trying out new food. Skilled in PR, creative media, and content strategies to assist brands and companies in developing and enhancing their online presence. Primary competency: - Market and audience insight - Campaign planning and strategy - Digital initiatives that result in 'earned' media attention that is organic. https://www.thesixthdegree.media