Thinking About Climate Change: A Guide for Teachers and Students

Tim Flannery's books The Weather Makers and We Are the Weather Makers changed minds and hearts about global warming. They contributed to a radical shift in our nation's understanding of climate change and the need for an urgent response.

Now, as a joint initiative between 2007 Australian of the year Tim Flannery, the Purves Environmental Fund, and Text Publishing, the material from Flannery’s award-winning books has been modified into this tool for the nation’s classrooms: Thinking About Climate Change: A Guide for Teachers and Students.

Across the curriculum disciplines of Maths, Science, the Humanities and Information Technology, this resource offers lesson plans, research aids and discussion suggestions to allow teachers and students to explore the implications and complexities of climate change and to learn and practice relevant skills. 

It has been compiled and tested by curriculum professionals and practicing teachers and fact-checked by Professor Will Steffen, Director, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University.

Professor Flannery is delighted that his work has been adapted into this learning resource. The guide includes a message from him, and material drawn directly from We Are the Weather Makers. 

Lessons have been constructed for students between years 7 and 10 with a focus on ‘Thinking Skills’ to ensure its relevance to contemporary classroom practices.

The guide, sponsored by the Purves Environmental Fund, is completely free. It will be distributed in multiple copies to all secondary schools in Australia in November 2007 and a high resolution PDF will also be available for download in mid November at www.theweathermakers.com. This site will also be updated with activities, news, links and additional teaching tools.

Every secondary school in Australia was sent a free copy of We Are the Weather Makers in 2006, which will allow teachers to support their lessons with direct study from the book. While this resource does not need to be taught alongside class sets of We Are the Weather Makers, schools who wish to complete the study unit in this way will be able to purchase multiple copies of the book at a substantial discount through the publisher at .

Thinking About Climate Change makes teaching about climate change issues easy and accessible for teachers in all states across key learning areas. We hope that it will provide a valuable learning opportunity for students and will help them develop their understanding of climate change—the science, impacts and solutions.