On Tuesday, March 25, 2025 NEEF and the Climate Mental Health Network hosted a webinar to launch the first evidence-based, teacher-tested resources for middle school educators to address the emotional impacts of climate change.
This webinar recording will help you:
- Learn about the research behind the resources
- Hear from teachers who have used it and the team that created it
These resources were developed based on a three-year program of work, including a nationwide research study to understand the experiences and needs of middle school teachers and their students. Informed by that research, we developed a comprehensive set of resources to support both student and teacher mental health. A nationwide pilot confirmed its effectiveness, with middle school teachers across the US testing the resources in their classrooms.
Key findings from our research:
- 83% of teachers said their school community had been impacted by an extreme weather event.
- 98% of teachers said they have encountered emotional reactions from students when teaching about climate change.
- The majority of teachers felt unequipped to help students cope with the mental health impacts of climate disasters.
Teachers overwhelmingly recommend the resources we developed for addressing climate emotions—100% of teachers said they’d recommend the toolkit to a colleague.
Here’s what they’re saying:
- “The toolkit provided a wealth of valuable resources that made it highly effective for addressing both the cognitive and emotional challenges of teaching climate change.” (California teacher)
- “The activities got my students thinking about their emotions in a very productive and meaningful way. They also made it easy to lead good discussions and help me understand each individual student better.” (New Jersey teacher)
- “The lesson plans were aligned with our science standards. The activities were easy, short and effective.” (Florida teacher)
Experts from both organizations presented key research findings and shared our evidence-based toolkit, which includes a teacher’s guide, 10 flexible student activities, and reflective practices to help students and teachers navigate climate emotions while building resilience.