Vision for a Better Climate Future
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Provided by: Paleontological Research Institution|Published on: August 29, 2025
Lesson PlansScientist Reviewed
K-12
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this activity from the Paleontological Research Institution, students will create works of art to show their vision for the future in a world where people are taking action against climate change and its impacts.
- Students will discuss positive things about their communities and dream of ways to make them better.
Subjects: Science, Visual and Performing Arts
Authors: Paleontological Research Institution
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This activity allows students to flex their creativity and encourages the use of found materials and reusing waste.
- Students will feel hopeful for the future as they create visualizations of a better world.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with climate change and some of the problems caused by pollution and emissions.
- Teachers will need to gather materials such as glue, markers, yarn, and others.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To make language arts connections, students can write narratives using descriptive imagery and other techniques to help the reader visualize the climate future.
- To help give students ideas, teachers can show them resources to explore possible climate solutions. Younger students can use this resource, which is a kid-friendly version of this table of solutions that is better-suited for high school students.
- Students can incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals by choosing a specific goal to focus on and base their vision for the future around its achievement. If younger students are unfamiliar with the goals, this video gives a helpful overview.
- After creating their art pieces, students can view each other's work in a gallery walk, noting what others visualize for the future.
This resource tasks students with using art to portray their vision of our climate in the future. The scientific consensus on climate change is affirmed, and the entirety of this activity is focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Several external resources are linked that help students see how they can personally affect change. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Paleontological Research Institution
Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) is a national leader in Earth systems science education. They strive to help make sense of the present and potential future climate change, while also increasing understanding of global change in Earth’s past. Their programs focus on systems thinking, understanding scale and learning in your own backyard.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
