How Explorify Can Help Primary Schools Deliver Climate and Sustainability Education
Why This Matters in Primary Science
Climate education is becoming an increasingly important part of what we do in primary science, not simply because policy points us in that direction, but because children are so aware of the world they are growing up in. Many already carry quiet worries about climate change, pollution or threatened species. As primary teachers, we have a duty to make sure the information they receive is accurate, age-appropriate and genuinely grounded in science. Explorify, with its rich range of activities, has become a really helpful support here. It offers simple but purposeful prompts that allow children to explore these big ideas safely, calmly and with their natural curiosity at the centre.
Giving Children the Knowledge They Need
Children notice global issues more than ever, and research from The Children’s Society shows that environmental concerns remain among the top worries for young people. This is a strong reminder that climate education must be more than a token litter pick or a recycled craft activity. Those things feel positive in the moment, but they don’t always help pupils understand the scientific mechanisms behind climate change. If children are to make thoughtful decisions later on, they need time to build secure knowledge, hear clear explanations and ask plenty of questions about the things they observe.
We want them to grow into global citizens, young people who understand how climate systems work, who can question sustainability claims sensibly, and who feel able to act when it is appropriate. Primary science is already rich with enquiry and real-world context; the challenge is finding manageable ways to weave climate learning into what we already teach. This is where Explorify really does make a difference.
How Explorify Supports Climate and Sustainability Education
Explorify provides a huge bank of discussion-based activities that encourage children to look closely, notice changes, ask questions and think scientifically. Climate Challenge activities are labelled with a polar bear badge, making it easy to find activities which relate to climate themes. These activities do not overwhelm pupils with dramatic global stories. Instead, they build understanding gently by starting with the familiar.
Take Where does our rubbish go? as an example. It encourages children to think about materials, waste and pollution in a way that is accessible for younger pupils yet rich enough to prompt deeper scientific thinking. Rather than telling children what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for the planet, the activity invites them to classify, compare and reason for themselves. It aligns naturally with curriculum materials topics, gently weaving ideas about climate and sustainability through everyday science learning, rather than treating them as a separate strand.
Understanding the Climate Challenge
The Explorify Climate Challenge is shaped around three key areas of global concern, global warming, biodiversity loss and pollution, each represented by a differently coloured polar bear badge. These reflect the same major issues identified by environmental researchers and map closely to the primary science curriculum.
Activities linked to global warming support children to make sense of the greenhouse effect, temperature changes and insulation. Those exploring biodiversity loss focus on interdependence, food webs and what happens when habitats change. The pollution activities look at air, water and land pollution and connect these ideas to primary science topics.
Every activity includes clear background science, practical teaching guidance and suggestions for extending learning, all of which help teachers feel confident in what they are delivering. In addition, Explorify’s Planning Support offers a dedicated climate change section, featuring a 30-minute video that explores the Climate Challenge activities alongside an accompanying PDF full of practical, classroom-ready ideas.
Why Positive Action Matters
One of the most valuable aspects of the Climate Challenge is its focus on positive actions. These actions link directly to the science children have explored, helping them see how their learning connects to real-world choices. They are small, realistic and achievable steps that pupils can take within school or in their local community.
For example, after learning about local habitats, pupils might take on the role of ‘school naturalists’, making small evidence-based improvements to a patch of the school grounds. After investigating pollution, they might decide to share a positive message, perhaps through an assembly, a short class video or posters for the school community. These actions matter because they link scientific understanding with a sense of agency, helping children feel hopeful rather than overwhelmed.
A Practical Approach for Schools
Explorify’s Climate Challenge activities make it easy for schools to embed climate and sustainability learning within the curriculum without adding extra pressure. Most importantly, they nurture children’s curiosity and understanding while giving them a sense of agency, helping them grow into learners who feel equipped to make thoughtful, responsible choices about the world around them.
Did you know that Explorify isn't only suitable for primary aged children?
You can use Explorify with students of all ages! Check out this blog from @Linda Crouch who explains more! https://community.stem.org.uk/blogs/linda-crouch/2024/10/10/explorify-a-hidden-gem-for-science-teachers-of-all
Plain text link: https://www.stem.org.uk/explorify/are-you-ready-to-meet-the-climate-challenge