Children learn about climate change
How do primary school children view climate change? This teacher training (PABO) project explores their visions of the future and offers teachers practical tools to integrate sustainability into their lessons.
Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires action – including in education. Yet many teachers feel uncertain about how to address sustainability in the classroom. This research explores how primary school students view climate action (SDG 13.3) through future scenario building, and how teachers can be supported in guiding such conversations. All 45 third-year teacher training students at The Hague University of Applied Sciences develop and deliver a lesson on sustainability and engage with pupils and teachers at their internship schools.
By dreaming of a sustainable future with children, we plant a seed. It nurtures awareness – both in children and in future teachers.
Dr. Rosa Groen, Project Lead
Background
Many teachers experience uncertainty when it comes to addressing sustainability and climate change. These topics are often treated incidentally in both primary and secondary education. Teachers are looking for ways to embed the theme in a hopeful and structured manner. At the same time, little is known about how young children perceive climate change. This project offers insight, inspiration, and concrete tools to give sustainability a meaningful place in the classroom.
Goal
To amplify children's voices and inspire teachers to approach sustainability education in a playful and positive way.
Target group
Student teachers, primary school teachers, and their pupils. The project focuses on primary education in the South Holland region.
Method
This project combines desk research with fieldwork. Teacher training students develop lesson plans, facilitate group discussions using an interactive future scenario game, and interview teachers. Children illustrate and annotate their future visions. Data is analyzed by students from the HBO-ICT programme.
(Expected) results
The project provides insights into which sustainability topics children find important and how teachers can incorporate these themes into their lessons. Outputs include a teaching module, a white paper for the Ministry of Education, and academic articles in journals such as the Journal of Environmental Education and Pedagogische Studiën.
Impact
The research fosters sustainable thinking among children and supports teachers in developing confident, hopeful sustainability education. It lays the foundation for integrating sustainability more structurally into the curriculum, with long-term societal impact.
Timeline
March – December 2025
Funding
Partially funded through PGO (practice-based research) resources.
Partners
- Teacher training students at The Hague University of Applied Sciences
- HBO-ICT students
- 30–45 primary schools in and around The Hague
- Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning
Research Team
- Dr. Rosa Groen (Project Lead)
- Dr. Sylvia Bergh
- Suzanne Cook
- Rosalie van den Berg (Intern)
- Berry Pieters (HBO-ICT)
Contact
For more information or potential collaborations, please contact senior researcher Rosa Groen at R.S.Groen@hhs.nl or researcher Suzanne Cook at S.Cook@hhs.nl.