Climate Literacy

Climate Literacy Workshop Materials

ECA-TC members participated in a two-session climate literacy workshop in early 2026, led by Nick Kleese from the University of Minnesota Center for Climate Literacy.  implement climate literacy initiatives within our chapter around children/youth programming and intergenerational engagement. 

• Session1 Workshop Recording 

• Session 2 Workshop Recording, Part 2 Workshop Slides

Session One: The Choice We Have…

This session will introduce you to the concept known as climate literacy. We will explore the concept’s development from a purely scientific understanding of the climate crisis to its emergent definition as a transdisciplinary capacity. We will also learn why stories—especially stories for young people—are central tools in advancing climate literacy education.  We will also practice specific strategies for identifying, selecting, and assessing children’s texts (books, films, games, etc) that are good for cultivating climate literacy. 

Session Two: …in the Stories We Tell

Our second session will extend our discussion of using children’s literature to advance climate literacy. To do so, we will learn about two specific frameworks for discussing stories with young people: the CLiCK and HOPE frameworks. After practicing these frameworks, attendees will then think together about possible programs and strategies for continuing the work. 

Background resources

• Oziewicz, M. (2023). What is Climate Literacy? Climate Literacy in Education, 1(1).

• Oziewicz, M. (2024). The CLICK Framework: A Care-Centric Conceptual Map for Organizing Climate Literacy Pedagogy. Climate Literacy in Education, 1(2).

• Redmond, C. (2024). The HOPE Framework: A Literacy Strategy for Identifying Hope in Narratives as a Response to Young People’s Eco-grief. Climate Literacy in Education, 2(1).

• Because we will use a single picturebook as an example of the multiple ways in which we might read with young people, participants are encouraged to purchase or borrow a copy of We Are Water Protectors, by Carol Lindstrom and Michaela Goade (Roaring Book Press, 2020). If purchasing, we recommend doing so through Birchbark Books in Minneapolis. If you’d rather not purchase a copy, you can watch and listen to a read aloud on YouTube. 

Other Resources

• Climate Lit Database - Extensive database for books, videos, movies, and more... 

• Grandparenting resources from the ECA National 

• The Climate Emotion Wheel helps people identify and express their feelings about climate change.

• Kids for Saving Earth program from the 1980s and 90s