Hot topic: Greta Thunberg and the climate emergency

In December 2019, 17-year-old Greta Thunberg was the youngest person to be named as TIME magazine's person of the year. Greta has been instrumental in bringing the issue of the climate emergency into global focus and has engaged millions of children in participating in school strikes for climate.

This hot topic resource can be used to spark ideas for using the issue of climate change to engage children in the classroom. Suggestions can be adapted for pupils aged 7-14 across England, Wales and Scotland.

Using this resource in the classroom

Climate change offers a number of engaging and interactive opportunities to promote learning and literacy. This hot topic resource:

• Recommends relevant age appropriate books to support reading skills. These books can be used as the basis of literacy lessons, for reading activities or as part of daily story time
• Offers ideas for oracy activities, including debates about whether children should go on school strikes
• Suggests purposeful writing activities such as letter writing