References
Getting Started: An E-STEM Approach to Teaching About Climate Change
The following provocations may be helpful as you think about getting started with climate change education with your young learners in ways that foster connection, curiosity, and care:
› What opportunities do children have for regular outdoor exploration and play in and outside of my setting?
› What observations, questions, or comments have they made about natural phenomena that are related to climate change( even if they are not necessarily aware of that connection)? How have I responded? When and how do I engage in dialogue with them?
› How can I gather more information( through brainstorming, talking with families, connecting with community organizations) to help children identify questions that can guide their explorations and investigations? How will they gather information to try to investigate the question?
About the Authors
Victoria Carr, EdD, professor of early childhood education at the University of Cincinnati, is executive director of the Arlitt Center’ s laboratory preschool, teaches classes on nature-based early learning, and studies children’ s connection to the natural world. Victoria. Carr @ uc. edu
Julie Athman Ernst, PhD, is a professor of environmental education and childhood nature studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. jernst @ d. umn. edu
Sheila Williams Ridge, EdD, is the director of the University of Minnesota Child Development Laboratory School and has over 25 years of experience as an educator and administrator in nature-based early childhood education. Sheilawr @ umn. edu
Abanoz, T., & D. Yabaş. 2025.“ Seeding Sustainable Futures: Enhancing Children’ s Knowledge of Content and Skills Through Early STEM Education.” Environmental Education Research 31( 5): 981 – 1000. doi. org / 10.1080 / 13504622.2025.2465722.
Aghayeeabianeh, B., & M. Talebi. 2020.“ Environmentalism in Families.” Childhood 27( 2): 271 – 77.
Almeida, S. C., & M. Fleer. 2021.“ E-STEM in Everyday Life: How Families Develop a Caring Motive Orientation Towards the Environment.” In Outdoor Learning and Play: Pedagogical Practices and Children’ s Cultural Formation, eds. L. T. Grindheim, H. V. Sørensen, & A. Rekers. Springer.
Arya, D., & J. Parker. 2015.“ Dialogic Action in Climate Change Discussions: An International Study of High School Students in China, New Zealand, Norway and the United States.” Dialogic Pedagogy: An International Online Journal 3. doi. org / 10.5195 / dpj. 2015.53.
Banning, W., & G. Sullivan. 2011. Lens on Outdoor Learning. Redleaf Press.
Bascopé, M., P. Perasso, & K. Reiss. 2019.“ Systematic Review of Education for Sustainable Development at an Early Stage: Cornerstones and Pedagogical Approaches for Teacher Professional Development.” Sustainability 11( 3): 719. doi. org / 10.3390 / su11030719.
Beaver, B. C., & L. A. Borgerding. 2023.“ Climate Change Education in Early Childhood Classrooms: A Nature-Based Approach.” International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education 11( 1): 3 – 19.
Bonwell, C. C., & J. A. Eison. 1991. Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom. George Washington University.
Capita & The Aspen Institute. 2023. Flourishing Children, Healthy Communities and a Stronger Nation: The U. S. Early Years Climate Action Plan. Capita & The Aspen Institute. earlyyearsclimateplan. us.
Carr, V., R. Brown, C. Maltbie, H. Kloos, L. Kochanowski, et al. 2018.“ Nature Playscapes and Pedagogies: Research, Affordances, and Teachers’ Practice.” Paper presented at the North American Association for Environmental Education Conference, Spokane, WA.
Carr, V., R. Brown, S. Schlembach, & L. Kochanowski. 2017.“ Nature by Design: Playscape Affordances Support the Use of Executive Function in Preschoolers.” Children, Youth & Environments 27( 2): 25 – 46.
Carr, V., & C. C. Underwood. 2024.“ Nature Play: Early Childhood and Beyond.” In IPA USA 50th Anniversary White Paper. International Play Association USA. ipausa. org / wp-content / uploads / 2024 / 12 / IPA-USA-50th-Anniversary-White-Paperfor-Distribution. pdf.
Carr, V., & E. Luken. 2014.“ Playscapes: A Pedagogical Paradigm for Play and Learning.” The International Journal of Play 3( 1): 69 – 83.
Chalufour, I., & K. Worth. 2003. Discovering Nature with Young Children. Redleaf Press.
26 Young Children
Winter 2025