Something we’ve been hearing recently from teachers is: my class are feeling anxious about the future. How can I support them to take action and make a difference?
Trees can play a fantastic role in helping to combat the climate emergency. We’ve designed a range of free KS3 activities to provoke discussion and inspire students to take action.
This blog explores the practical activities your class can do today, to help make a difference in the future.
Local impact
Your students may be aware of the global impact of a changing climate, rising sea levels and melting ice caps. But do they understand the changes that are happening on their doorstep, particularly in forests and woodlands?
Introduce your students to the role well managed forests can play in tackling the climate emergency by watching our new video, ‘We are for the climate’.
Activities for students
At Forestry England, we’re working to protect the nation’s forests so that future generations can still enjoy them.
Trees reduce the impact of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide as they grow and storing it as carbon in wood. They also play a role in reducing flooding and keeping our air clean.
Wherever you’re based, your students can take part in carbon capture activities to inspire discussion and provoke change.
Calculate how much carbon the trees near your school are storing with our carbon capture activity sheet. How does this compare to activities that produce carbon?
Complete a school audit to discover the small changes you can make to reduce carbon emissions. Use the information you've gathered to make a pledge to tackle your school’s carbon footprint.
What difference can we make?
We have always planned 60—100 years ahead to make sure we plant the right trees in the right places. It’s important we continue to do this so that trees planted now adapt or are resilient to the future climate.
Talk to your students about how anything they do now can have an important future impact. Ask them to take on the important role of tree health officer for the day.
Identify common tree pests and diseases and what we can do to help reduce the spread.
Take part in tree health citizen science by surveying your area. Report signs of pests and diseases to Tree Alert.
Our climate change resource hub is full of free, curriculum-linked resources for KS3 classes. You’ll find videos with experts, case studies and investigations for your students to carry out.
Coming soon
We’re creating resources with our colleagues in Forest Research to develop scientific studies for KS4 students. Sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date.
