Storytelling and fiction have long been used as a form of communication. It is an intrinsic part of social connection, as evident from ancient scriptures to present-day print media. Storytelling is crucial for the social and emotional aspects of individuals and their cognitive growth. It aids in enhancing human communication and promoting the healthy sharing of knowledge.
The alarming changes in the climate are a significant concern, as their adverse effects are not limited to the environment but also impact human, animal, and plant life. Individuals of all age groups must have sufficient awareness so that collective action can be taken to mitigate these critical effects.
Traditional storytelling combined with innovative approaches can offer an optimistic way to address climate concerns through education and awareness. The majority of the population in suburban and rural areas are either illiterate or not literate enough to comprehend the complex terms and concepts of climate change.
The key element in crafting a story for awareness is meeting emotional standards. Emotional resonance and intellectual engagement make a narrative successful, as society consists of people with varying levels of emotional intelligence and intellectual abilities. Let’s dive into the details of how storytelling differs for different age groups.
Language Use in Storytelling Across Age Groups
We breathe in very polluted air, drink contaminated water, our food is no longer hygienic and our climate is on the verge of destruction. These pressing issues require equally effective communication to raise awareness and inspire individuals to take appropriate action. Storytelling must be tailored to different age groups, as individuals are at various stages of cognitive and emotional development. Crafting motivational narratives encourages individuals to contribute to climate action.
Young Children (3-7 years old)
Young children have a limited vocabulary, so the words used in storytelling should be simple, and an engaging style should be adopted. Incorporating rhyming words and even poems can help reinforce the message. The moral of the story should be clear and easy to practice, such as keeping water clean, planting trees, loving animals, and not littering.
Mid Childhood (8-12 years old)
Children in this age group have an expanded vocabulary and improved cognitive abilities. As they grow, their capacity for understanding complex narratives—such as pollution, renewable energy resources, and global warming, gradually increases. Stories should encourage students to think critically about the consequences of climate change and the necessary steps to address it.
Teenagers (13-18 years old)
Teenagers can be engaged in more meaningful, thought-provoking, and fact-based discussions about climate change. Using real-world examples and current news can emphasize the urgency of the climate crisis, making it feel immediate and relevant. By this age, teenagers have developed personal interests, and incorporating these into storytelling can create a stronger personal connection. Healthy discussions around these stories can lead to potential solutions, especially if the narratives align with their values.
Use of Illustrations in Climate Change Storytelling
Illustrations make complex climate change issues easier to understand by serving as an effective tool for raising awareness and inspiring action. Sometimes, the public struggles to grasp nuanced concepts and visuals can be especially useful in conveying urgent messages.
For young children aged 3–7 years, cartoon-like, playful, and colorful illustrations help make the narrative friendly and easy to comprehend. For example, a happy panda, a sad polar bear, and smiling trees can encourage empathy and a deeper connection with nature.
Adults (19 and above age)
For adults, storytelling about climate change should be grounded in facts and research, as their cognitive abilities allow them to comprehend complex themes. They can also understand the intricacies of politics and economics involved in implementing environmentally friendly projects. The language should aim to inform and inspire self-accountability.
Stories for Climate Change Education by Age Group
Here we present some climate change-themed stories according to different age groups.
Young Children (3-7 years old)
The Tantrum That Saved the World by Megan Herbert & Michael E. Mann
In this story, a young girl meets victims of climate change—animals and humans— and learns how to play an active role in saving them. These climate refugees visit her home after being displaced by environmental disasters. She initially has a tantrum but eventually channels her emotions into action, taking responsibility for making a difference.
The Last Tree by Emily Haworth-Booth
This is a sensitive story about a community that only realizes the value of trees when they are left with the last one after cutting down many for their settlement in a beautiful forest. They must then decide whether to cut it down for their immediate needs or preserve it for the future.
Moreover, Why Should I Recycle? by Jen Green and Mike Gordon highlights the importance of recycling through an engaging story format. At the same time, Greta and the Giants by Zoë Tucker and Zoe Persico teach children about advocacy for environmental protection.
Older Children (9–12 years old)
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
A classic story about deforestation and the importance of protecting nature. The Once-ler arrives in a beautiful forest and cuts down Truffula trees despite warnings from the Lorax, who speaks for the trees. When the last tree falls, the Once-ler’s industry collapses. In the end, he entrusts the last Truffula seed to a boy, leaving him with a message to care for nature.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
It is a mystery-adventure story about Roy Eberhardt, who, along with his friends Mullet Fingers and his stepsister, works to stop an illegal development project to save a colony of endangered burrowing owls.
Earth Heroes by Lily Dyu
This book is a collection of twenty real-life stories of young climate activists who have made a difference. It features profiles of notable figures such as Greta Thunberg, Sir David Attenborough, Isatou Ceesay, and Yin Yuzhen. The story aims to inspire readers through real-world examples of personal dedication and innovative thinking.
Teenagers (13–18 years old)
Dry by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman
A dystopian thriller novel about a California drought known as the “Tap-Out” and the devastating consequences of water scarcity. The story follows Alyssa, a teenage girl, who, along with her friends, embarks on a desperate search for water. Their journey turns into a fight for survival as they face dehydration, violent encounters, and moral struggles. The novel powerfully illustrates how extreme circumstances can push people to their limits when resources run out.
Orleans by Sherri L. Smith
This dystopian novel is set on the Gulf Coast, which has been devastated by hurricanes and a deadly disease called Delta Fever. In response, the U.S. government builds a wall to isolate the region from the rest of the country. The story follows Fen de la Guerre, who fights for the safety of her newborn baby sister, and Daniel, a scientist from the Outer States dedicated to finding a cure for Delta Fever. The novel conveys powerful themes of survival, sacrifice, and the resilience of humanity in the face of climate-related adversities.
We Are the Weather Makers by Tim Flannery
The book explores the impact of human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, on global warming and extreme weather conditions. It highlights potential solutions and emphasizes the role of individuals and communities in reducing carbon emissions. Through its message, the book aims to inspire young readers to take action and engage in climate activism.
Similarly, Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd documents the life of a teenage girl living in an era of carbon rationing.
Adults (19 and above ages)
The Overstory by Richard Powers
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, it follows the lives of nine individuals deeply connected to trees. As their stories intertwine, the Novel explores the beauty and resilience of trees while highlighting humanity’s often destructive behavior toward the natural world.
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
It is a sci-fi novel that explores how humanity might take necessary steps to address climate change in the future. The Novel begins with a devastating heatwave in India, leading to the creation of a global organization called The Ministry for the Future, which advocates for the planet’s survival. Blending real science, economic strategies, and geopolitical conflicts, the book envisions how the world could unite to tackle the environmental crisis.
Storytelling and fiction have been a fundamental part of human culture for centuries. In the context of climate change education, it simplifies complex concepts, fosters empathy, and strengthens community connections. We can implement storytelling and fiction for climate education by organizing workshops, seminars, and training sessions. The power of narratives can be utilized to educate and mobilize individuals and communities for meaningful action.
“The best arguments in the world won’t change a person’s mind. The only thing that can do that is a good story”. ~Richard Powers
References:
- Storytelling to accelerate climate solutions. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-54790-4
- Storytelling as a tool to promote plurilingualism. https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/storytelling-as-a-tool-to-promote-plurilingualism/
- Effective Strategies for Teaching ESL across age groups. https://5minuteenglish.com/effective-strategies-for-teaching-esl-across-age-groups/
- How can we make people care about sustainable fashion? https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/sustainability/how-can-we-make-people-care-about-sustainable-fashion-climate-change?
- Principles for effective communication and public engagement on climate change. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2017/08/Climate-Outreach-IPCC-communications-handbook.pdf?
- A toolkit for climate storytelling. https://www.thisisplaneted.org/img/ContentCreatorsToolkit.pdf?
- Konnie Huq launched a free climate crisis ebook for UK primary schools. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/04/konnie-huq-free-climate-crisis-ebook-primary-schools-jamie-oliver-mary-portas-david-baddiel-adam-kay?
- How the climate museum hopes art will spur action. https://time.com/7024811/climate-museum-new-york-art-change/?
- Climate change will be taught in California middle schools, thanks to our curriculum. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/climate-change-california-middle-schools-curriculum?
- Children of Saturn is a game about growing up under the shadow of climate catastrophe. https://www.polygon.com/gaming/511344/children-of-saturn-la-fires-climate-change?
- Book review: The Tantrum That Saved the world. https://ncse.ngo/book-review-tantrum-saved-world
- Children’s book review: The Last Tree by Emily Haworth-Booth. https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2021/03/childrens-book-reviews-the-last-tree-by-emily-haworth-booth/
- Little turtle and the changing sea. https://www.booksfortopics.com/book/little-turtle-and-the-sea/
- The Lorax. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lorax
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoot_(novel)
- Book review: Earth Heroes. https://earthbound.report/2019/11/18/book-review-earth-heroes-by-lily-dyu/
- Book review: Dry by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman. https://firstlinereader.blog/2019/12/29/book-review-dry-by-neal-shusterman-and-jarrod-shusterman/
- Book review: Orleans by Sherri L. Smith. https://www.thebooksmugglers.com/2013/03/book-review-orleans-by-sherri-l-smith.html
- We Are the Weather Makers by Tim Flannery. https://library.si.edu/donate/adopt-a-book/we-are-weather-makers
- The Overstory by Richard Powers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Overstory
- This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/19/this-changes-everything-capitalism-vs-climate-naomi-klein-review
- The Ministry for the Future. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future
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Syeda Khair-ul-Bariyah has been associated with teaching since 2007. She is a synthetic organic chemist and a science and fiction writer. She has publications in both national and international journals in the field of Chemistry. Moreover, she is the author of a stage playbook, “Peregrination of the Soul,” and has a couple of articles and poems published on various websites.
