With the growing importance of climate education, finding resources that are both engaging and easy to implement, while aligning with educational standards, can be difficult. The Educated Choices Program addresses this by providing free resources that help students understand how food systems impact the environment, offering a solutions-based approach to education that aims to reduce their environmental impact.
Created in collaboration with respected organizations and experts, each program features a video, lesson plans, discussion prompts, quizzes, homework, activities, and more. These materials are predominantly available in English and Spanish, with captions in various languages.
The effectiveness of these lessons is underscored by a recent study conducted by researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh, which found that students were 2.5 times more likely to adopt positive food-related behaviors after participating in the program.
Here are seven of our top video lessons for teaching climate and environmental education in the classroom.
One of the latest offerings from the Educated Choices Program, developed in collaboration with the Planetary Health Alliance, is Planetary Health: Agriculture and the Anthropocene. This lesson helps students explore the link between human health and Earth’s systems through global food systems. An 18-minute video and lesson plan cover topics such as biodiversity loss, climate change, water pollution, and public health, encouraging students to see how daily food choices affect both people and the planet.
How it meets standards
This lesson can be integrated into environmental science, biology, health, sustainability, and social studies courses. It enables students to analyze cause-and-effect relationships, evaluate environmental challenges, and apply systems-thinking skills by examining the impact of food production on ecosystems and human health.
Why we love it
The lesson simplifies complex global issues into understandable, relatable examples, allowing students to better grasp the connections between people, food systems, and the planet.
Part of the Educated Choices Program’s Bite-Sized Learning Series for students aged 8–11, Eat for the Earth introduces young learners to the environmental impact of food choices. Featuring engaging content and a virtual cafeteria activity, students learn about land and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and simple daily actions to positively impact the environment.
How it meets standards
This lesson supports standards in environmental science, sustainability, responsible decision-making, and environmental literacy. It helps students understand natural resource use, climate change, and the link between daily decisions and environmental outcomes.
Why we love it
Climate education can be daunting for younger students, but this lesson makes big concepts accessible and engaging. It empowers children by showing them how small actions can make a difference.
The Environment and Modern Agriculture examines how contemporary food production impacts the environment. Covering topics like greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water usage, and pollution, students explore the environmental challenges tied to industrial agriculture and learn about practical actions to reduce their ecological footprint. This lesson is available in both English and Spanish, and includes a video, class activities, quizzes, and more.
How it meets standards
This lesson aligns with standards in environmental science, ecology, sustainability, agriculture, and earth science. Students analyze natural resource use, assess human impacts on ecosystems, evaluate evidence, and explore solutions to environmental challenges.
Why we love it
The video lesson provides students with a factual overview of how food systems affect the environment. It fosters thoughtful discussions and critical thinking about real-world challenges and practical everyday solutions.
Oceans play a crucial role in maintaining the planet’s health, yet many students are unaware of how marine ecosystems are affected by our food choices. Sea the Impact investigates the effects of land and sea food production on issues such as overfishing, plastic pollution, ocean acidification, and habitat loss. Through engaging lessons and activities, students discover the importance of healthy oceans and how their choices can protect marine life.
How it meets standards
This lesson supports standards in environmental science, marine biology, ecology, sustainability, and human impact on Earth systems. Students evaluate the impacts of food production on ocean ecosystems, analyze environmental challenges, and explore solutions to marine biodiversity preservation.
Why we love it
Ocean conservation is a vital component of climate education, yet it is often overlooked in classrooms. This lesson clarifies the connection between everyday choices and the health of our oceans and the creatures reliant on them.
Food waste is not confined to kitchens and cafeterias. Rethinking Food Waste: The Journey of Food follows food through each stage of the supply chain, revealing where waste occurs and its impact on people and the planet. Students learn about the environmental costs of food waste and explore practical strategies for reducing waste in their lives and communities.
How it meets standards
This lesson aligns with standards in environmental science, sustainability, systems thinking, and scientific inquiry. Students analyze the food supply chain, assess the environmental impacts of food waste, and develop solutions to address resource conservation challenges.
Why we love it
Food waste is a tangible concept for students to grasp. By tracing food from farm to table, this lesson transforms a common issue into an engaging chance for students to critically think about waste, resources, and environmental impact. Rethinking Food Waste is also one of We Are Teachers’ Teacher Picks. Read about how one middle school educator used this lesson to spark meaningful conversations in her classroom and inspired student action around food waste.
In collaboration with EARTHDAY.ORG, The Planet and Our Plates provides an in-depth look at the environmental impact of modern food systems. Students delve into issues like biodiversity loss, resource depletion, climate change, overfishing, and food waste while exploring solutions for a sustainable future.
How it meets standards
This lesson supports standards in environmental science, sustainability, ecology, social studies, and global citizenship. Students explore the connection between food production and environmental challenges, evaluate solutions, and consider how their actions influence ecosystems and communities.
Why we love it
We value this lesson’s encouragement of systems thinking. It helps students see how climate change, biodiversity, food waste, and public health are interrelated challenges rather than isolated issues.
Developed with the Environmental Working Group, Our Carbon Foodprint guides students in exploring the environmental impact of food production, including greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and deforestation. The lesson highlights the link between food systems and climate change, offering practical ways to reduce one’s environmental footprint through everyday choices.
How it meets standards
This lesson supports standards in climate science, environmental science, sustainability, and ecology. Students investigate the sources and impacts of greenhouse gas emissions, analyze food production’s environmental effects, and assess strategies to reduce their carbon footprint.
Why we love it
While the term “carbon footprint” is widely used, it can often seem abstract. This lesson makes the concept more tangible by illustrating the connection between daily food choices and broader environmental impacts.
The Educated Choices Program ensures alignment with individual educational standards by providing one of the most comprehensive guides available. For more details, visit this link to their standards guidelines, which can be downloaded for reference.
