Climate change is one of the pressing challenges of our time – it not only affects the health of all life forms on our planet, it also creates serious environmental challenges that we must all deal with now and into the future. So what is climate change, and what are the signs? Why should we care? What can we do? Below are information and resources to learn about this issue and ways we can work together to protect our planet for future generations.

Online Resources

ClimateKids - NASA
NASA’s Climate Kids website brings climate science to life with fun games, interactive features and exciting articles. For upper-elementary-aged children.

Global Climate Change - NASA
A one-stop shop for climate change info, from basic introductory content to practical guides and raw data, all from expert sources; good for middle schoolers and up.

Climate Change - National Geographic Kids
What is climate change? What could happen? Learn the facts you need to know.

Climate Change 101 with Bill Nye - National Geographic
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, explains what causes climate change, how it affects our planet, why we need to act promptly to mitigate its effects, and how each of us can contribute to a solution.

Climate Change - National Wildlife Federation
Learn about the causes of climate change, and how climate change is affecting wildlife and ecosystems in the United States.

Communicate with Your Kids About Climate Change - Scholastic Parents
Move past the trendy media talk and help your child understand the issues of climate change.

How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change - NPR
Provides tips for parenting through the slow-motion climate change emergency.

Helpful Books

You can also read more about this topic by checking out the titles below. For a more complete list, please click for the printable or online lists.

Dear Earth by Erin Dealey
A monthly exchange of ideas between kids and Earth becomes a lasting friendship in this affectionate story about how to be an Earth Hero.

This Book Will (Help) Cool the Climate by Isabel Thomas
If you want to learn to reduce your carbon footprint and cool the Earth, here are practical tips and projects that make a difference!

Climate Change and Rising Temperatures by Kevin Kurtz
Learn how climate change impacts the temperatures here on Earth in this engaging and informative read.

Climate Action: What Happened and What We Can Do by Seymour Simon
Learn how our behavior and actions have led us to this point, hear from kids around the world dealing with extreme storms, wildfires, and sea level rise, and discover what scientists, youth activists, and ordinary citizens are doing to protect their communities.

Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival by Lindsay Moore
A polar bear waits patiently for spring when the ice breaks up, but after months of hunting, paddling, and resting on ice floes, summer ends and the bear must swim very far to find land. Includes facts about polar bears and the effect of climate change on their environment.

What is Climate Change? by Gail Herman
Presents an overview of climate change, discussing if humans are at fault for the rapidly warming Earth, and describes why climate change has recently become a political issue.

Stand up! Speak up! A Story Inspired By the Climate Change Revolution by Andrew Joyner
Celebrate young climate change activists in this story about an empowered girl who shows up, listens up, and ultimately, speaks up to inspire her community to take action against climate change.

Our House is On Fire : Greta Thunberg's Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter
Tells the story of Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenage climate activist who has sparked a worldwide student movement and is demanding action from world leaders who refuse to address climate change.

Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels Have Changed the Earth by Molly Bang
Explains how coal, oil, and gas are really "buried sunlight," trapped beneath the surface of our planet for millions of years. Now we are digging them up and burning them, changing the carbon balance of our planet's air and water. What does this mean, and what should we do about it?

Climate Change: The Science Behind Melting Glaciers and Warming Oceans by Joshua Sneideman
A book about climate change for middle readers who want to learn the science behind a warming planet and make a difference for their own future.

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