Ontario teachers expand climate justice education in classrooms

A recent article reports that union materials encourage Ontario elementary teachers to teach climate justice beyond conservation, and a seventh-grade guide links climate harms to colonial and capitalist systems and says impacts fall disproportionately on Black, Indigenous and people of colour.

Several recent pieces report on teaching materials and guidance used by some Ontario educators that emphasize climate justice alongside environmental topics. The coverage notes that union documents encourage elementary teachers to go beyond traditional conservation lessons. A separate teaching guide aimed at seventh-grade students addresses "environmental racism" and connects climate impacts to broader social and historical systems. These materials are presented as resources for classroom discussion and exploration. Reported details: - Union materials are described as urging elementary teachers to teach climate issues in ways that address inequities and advocacy. - The provincial teachers' union general secretary is reported as saying environmental education should do more than teach conservation and should prepare students to understand and confront inequities. - A seventh-grade teaching guide is highlighted as framing climate change as linked to colonial and capitalist systems and says harms are disproportionately experienced by Black, Indigenous and people of colour. - The guide is reported to invite students and educators to explore climate justice in intersectional ways. Summary: The articles describe educational materials intended to integrate climate justice and social inequities into classroom learning, and they note specific language used in union and curriculum-related guides. Undetermined at this time.