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  • This teacher resource lists selected articles from the Connected and School Journal reading series that support science concepts when teaching about climate change.

    Connected and School Journal resources are produced for New Zealand primary and intermediate schools by the Ministry of Education. They are available to New Zealand schools in print and digital form (use the search function in the Literacy section of the Tāhūrangi website. This includes the Instructional Series).

    The article Literacy through science has suggestions on how to integrate science with literacy to enhance learning in both areas.

    Connected and School Journal titles and synopses for the topic climate change Science Learning Hub resources supported by the titles

    Climate Change: Our Biggest Challenge by Tricia Glensor

    School Journal Level 4, June 2018

    An overview of the causes and impacts of climate change, with graphs and images.

    Greenhouse effect

    Carbon dioxide and climate

    Methane – a greenhouse gas

    Ruminant digestion

    Climate action

    Activity idea

    Climate change – challenging conversations

    Wildfire by Naomi Arnold

    Connected Level 4, 2020

    An article about wildfires, their causes, effects and how they are influenced by climate.

    What is fire?

    Invasive weeds and wildfires

    Listening to the Land by Laura Goodall

    Connected Level 3, 2018

    Kairangahau Māori collect and record mātauranga to understand how climate change is affecting wildlife and ecosystems, and how it can be used to plan for change.

    Climate connections – why climate change matters

    Why climate change matters to Māori

    Activity ideas

    Using infographics

    Climate change – challenging conversations

    Feedback by Matt Boucher

    School Journal Level 4, May 2020

    Read about feedback loops – positive feedback loops, which can cause climate change to accelerate, or negative loops, which can lessen the factors that cause change.

    Greenhouse gases and the atmosphere

    Deforestation

    WildfireConnected journal article

    Reducing our Footprint by Sarah Connor

    School Journal Level 4, May 2021

    The article features people taking positive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    Dairy farming and climate change – a context for learning

    The environmental footprint of electric versus fossil cars

    Driving us into the futureConnected journal article

    Activity idea

    Carbon dioxide emissions calculator

    How big is your footprint? by Norman Bilbrough

    School Journal Part 3 Number 1, 2011

    An article about climate change in the 21st century (includes teacher support material).

    Fuels and greenhouse gases video

    Climate action

    Activity idea

    Carbon dioxide emissions calculator

    Trees, seas and soil, by Renata Hopkins

    Connected Level 3, 2020

    Use this article to discover what a carbon sink is and why they are so important.

    Trees and natural cycles

    Deforestation

    The ocean and the carbon cycle

    What is in soil?

    Activity ideas

    Ocean acidification and eggshells

    What makes up soil?

    Carbon cycle quiz

    The Great Barrier Reef Sarah Wilcox

    School Journal Level 4, 2013

    This article explores rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and the effect on the world's oceans and coral reefs.

    The ocean, CO2 and climate change – timeline

    Ocean dissolved gases

    The Big Chill and the Big Drill by Rupert Alchin

    Connected Level 1 and 2, 2008

    ANDRILL scientists drill into the Antarctic seabed to learn about Antarctica’s climate and how it has changed from ancient times.

    Captured in ice by Veronika Meduna

    Connected Level 3, 2017

    Nancy Bertler collects ice cores to learn how the Earth’s climate has changed over time.

    Clues to the past

    The ANDRILL operation video

    Antarctica and global climate change

    Activity idea

    Making a core sample

    59.5 Degrees South by Sarah Wilcox

    School Journal Level 3, August 2013

    This article provides information on Argo floats –devices that measure ocean currents, temperature and salinity (includes teacher support material).

    Argo project

    Ocean salinity

    Ocean temperature

    Ocean motion

    Activity ideas

    Buoyancy in water

    Saline currents

    Global action by Phillip Simpson

    Connected Level 4, 2017

    This article examines what global warming is and how computer modelling works and identifies how science may help New Zealand reduce its agricultural emissions

    Greenhouse effect

    Climate models

    The nitrogen cycle

    Measuring greenhouse gas emissions

    Activity idea

    Carbon dioxide emissions calculator

    Rising seas by Kate Potter

    Connected Level 3, 2014

    This article looks at the role of evidence in determining that sea levels are rising. It also notes some of the implications of sea level rise

    Climate change, melting ice and sea level rise

    Activity ideas

    Investigating sea level rise

    Melting glacial ice

    Building for the future by Adrienne Jansen

    Connected Level 3, 2017

    This article tells how experts work together to future proof a coastal village from the threat of tsunamis and rising seas.

    Climate change, melting ice and sea level rise

    Activity idea

    Science and partnership with a Sāmoan village

    Related content

    Climate change resources – planning pathways breaks climate change down into smaller, bite-size topics and key science concepts.

    Climate science has its own language. Check out a few key terms – with references to New Zealand’s greenhouse gas profile.

    Check out our entire range of Connected articles here. We’ve curated them by topic and concepts.

    Our Literacy through science topic curates lots of activities, articles and other resources to boost science and literacy. You can filter for primary and secondary resources.

    Literacy and science PLD

    There are multiple connections between science learning and literacy learning. The following webinars identify strategies to deliberately incorporate literacy learning in both areas.

    Collection of related content

    The Science Learning Hub team has curated a collection of resources related to climate change. Sign in to make this collection part of your private collection, just click on the copy icon. You can then add additional content, notes and make other changes adn then share and collaborate with others. Registering an account for the Science Learning Hubs is easy and free – sign up with your email address or Google account. Look for the Sign in button at the top of each page.

    Useful links

    The Ministry of Education's Climate Change Learning Programme is a level 4 programme focused on climate change that includes specific student activities; the wellbeing guide focuses on student wellbeing and hauora when navigating climate change as an area of learning and action. Many of the suggestions are relevant to other learning levels.

    Connected uses contextual issues to promote scientific, technological and mathematical literacy, search. Got to the the Literacy (inc. Instructional Series) section of the Tāhūrangi website and search by title or "Connected".

    School Journal supports students in years 4–8 to meet the reading demands of all New Zealand curriculum areas.

    The Connected and School Journal teacher support materials are accessed through the Journal Surf website. A subscription login is required.

    The Connected journals can be ordered from the Down the Back of the Chair website. Access to these resources is restricted to Ministry-approved education providers. To find out if you are eligible for a login or if you have forgotten your login details, contact their customer services team on 0800 660 662 or email orders@thechair.education.govt.nz.

    Returning to a green Antarctica is a comic by Simone Giovanardi and Bella Duncan. It explains why Antarctica once looked more like South Island’s West Coast beech forests than the frozen continent we know today.

      Published 3 May 2017, Updated 5 October 2024 Referencing Hub articles
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