By: Andrew Tao
In Trenton, New Jersey, teacher Michelle Liwacz asks first graders a question, “Antarctica is getting warmer. What could the penguins that live there do to adapt?” The kids think of many creative ideas, with one even saying that they could live in their fridge at home.
New Jersey is the first state to require all grade levels to be taught climate change. The reason is to help kids think about ways to solve climate change and not to make kids scared of it.
The whole goal of this curriculum is to educate young people about climate change so that they can start thinking about its solutions early on. Tammy Murphy, the wife of Gov. Phil Murphy says, “Climate change education was vital to help students attune to the planet’s health, prepare for a new economy based on green energy and adapt to climate shifts that promise to intensify as this generation of children reaches adulthood.”
Many people are happy about this; a poll conducted in May 2023 by Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey found that 70 percent of state residents supported climate change being taught. The parents themselves said that they were delighted by the climate lessons. This is because explaining climate change to young children is hard since they may not understand it. Parents feel confident that schools will be able to explain it in simpler terms to their children.
On top of learning about climate change, Ms. Liwacz’s class is also learning about the importance of all creatures in an ecosystem. Ms. Liwacz read a story detailing the role of sharks in keeping ocean water clean and ecosystems balanced. The class then talked which ended in a discussion about the importance of shark poop. A student said that fish eat shark poop, and when Ms. Liwacz asked what would happen without shark poop, the student said that fish would starve. This is students learning about cause and effect.
However, in a few states, many people have been against adding climate change to the curriculum. Some states falsely frame climate science as a matter of debate, says Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center for Science Education. This spring, the Texas State Board of Education said that students should learn the “positive” side of fossil fuels.
In summary, there are 1st graders in New Jersey learning about climate change. This is very well received by most people in New Jersey, and more states are expected to follow suit.