The purpose of this page is to provide teachers and learners with information and resources on the topic of climate change. It contains a curriculum guide and information about the annual DEAT climate change competition as well as links to other useful climate related educational sites.

Curriculum Guide
DEAT and Greencom have produced a curriculum guide for teachers called 'Learning about Climate Change: An Environmental Education Learning Resource for Educators". This learning guide covers ten themes related to climate change and within each there is information and suggestions for projects and activities to carry out with a class or an environmental club.

The main objectives of the guide are to: (bullets)
Encourage and help teachers to integrate climate change into the whole curriculum - but especially natural science and social studies learning areas
Provide resource material on climate change - including suggestions for practical learning activities
Promote activities that bring schools and communities together to try to slow down global warming.

The guide is designed to help educators carry out outcomes-based education that emphasizes active learning and integration.

The whole document can be obtained from DEAT. For details contact Smangele Mguuba on 012 310 3358  or smguuba@deat.gov.za

Schools Grade 6 Competition
This annual competition is run by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and is sponsored by USAID. It is part of South Africa's Global Climate Change Strategy to educate young people and communities about global climate change and its effects. It is aimed at all schools in the country, urban and rural, but specifically Grade 6 learners.

The aims of the competition are :

• To raise awareness of global climate change issues in South Africa
• To promote school and community activities to reduce global climate change
• To encourage SA youth to improve and develop the environment
• To help school children and their communities to find meaningful solutions to global climate change
• To build confidence in learners in order to develop their research and presentation skills
• To encourage young south Africans to look at energy sources that conserve resources and contribute to better health.

For more details of the competition and how to enter it, contact Smangele Mguuba on 012 310 3358/ smguuba@deat.gov.za

Links and Other Resources
Various organisations throughout the world have developed education packs and resources for both teachers and learners. Links to some of these are provided below.

Canadian Government - resources for teachers
Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development - teaching resources
UK Government - information for schools
United States EPA Global Warming site - Global Warming for Kids
United States Global Change Research Programme - educational resources
Tour the Ozone Hole

If you know of other useful sites which contain teaching and student resources - please contact us with details so that we can post the links in this section.