Montana Kids Explore Climate and Health
On a sunny July Tuesday morning, Megan welcomed 25 children aged 6–9 from the Boys and Girls Club of Missoula County into a classroom at Washington Middle School for their first “Environmental Health in a Box” lesson. Developed by Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, the curriculum aims to equip kids with the knowledge and skills to understand climate change, safeguard their health, and articulate their perspectives.
To settle the group, Megan called out “Waterfall!” and the children responded with a collective “Shhhhhhhh!” Once seated with their peers and staff, Megan announced, “Today, we begin our conversation about climate, weather, and the planet we live on!” After a brief pause, she encouraged a lively “Yay!” from the students. She introduced the day’s activity: listening to the audiobook The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge. “Pay attention,” she said, “and be ready to share your favorite part or something you learned.”
As the audiobook played, the room grew quiet, captivated by Ms. Frizzle and her students’ global adventure to explore climate change. This Magic School Bus adventure explained greenhouse gases, their impact on the atmosphere, and visited a variety of places on Earth to highlight the diverse climates across Earth. Megan pre-selected two children, Judy and Emmery, to share their thoughts afterward. To understand the group’s engagement, she asked for a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on the topic’s importance. The response was thumbs-up across the classroom.
Following the audiobook, the curriculum featured an interactive activity tied to the book’s theme of diversity of place climates. Megan explained: each child would receive a laminated card with either a place (Sahara, Hawaii, Antarctica, or Montana) or a corresponding average temperature range (100–104°F, 75–85°F, 0°F, or 58–86°F). The children’s job was to find their partner by matching the place with the temperature and then to form a “frozen high-five” pair. Once paired, they lined up around the classroom’s perimeter. Matches were verified by having pairs read their place and temperature aloud. One child in Antarctica exclaimed, “Zero degrees? I’d turn into an ice cube!”
Next, the pairs moved to one of four corners of the room based on their place. Megan prompted, “Show me what it feels like to be in your place!” The Sahara group fanned themselves, Antarctica shivered with crossed arms, while the Montana and Hawaii groups stood comfortably. Megan asked, “Do you see how climate affects our daily lives?” The children nodded in agreement. Megan added, “It makes you think about where you want to live!” The activity concluded with the children drawing what hot, normal, and cold environments made them feel, associating images or emotions with each.
Reflecting on the lesson, Megan highlighted its significance for the age group. She felt that the book and activities effectively engaged the diverse 6–10 age range in their groups. Additionally, she thought that this could be adapted for older kids. For younger learners, she suggested introducing a simple definition of “temperature” to deepen their understanding and spark deeper conversations. Megan emphasized the curriculum’s importance for Montana children, noting that “Living in Montana, these kids may not realize how special their clean, natural environment is. By instilling a sense of responsibility now, we prepare the next generation to tackle environmental challenges.” The session concluded with the distribution of copies of Winston Churchill: One Bear’s Battle Against Global Warming to reinforce the lesson and prepare the children for the following lessons. Following this lesson, Megan taught four additional lessons on subsequent Tuesdays, building on these foundational concepts.
The Environmental Health In A Box aims to empower children with tools to discuss their changing environment, protect their health from emerging environmental threats, and express their thoughts and feelings. It fosters literacy through books, fine motor skills through arts and crafts, gross motor skills through physical activities, and emotional intelligence and social skills through guided discussions. This curriculum is vital because it equips young learners with the knowledge and skills to understand climate change, advocate for their environment, and build a sense of responsibility for protecting the planet for future generations.If you have an afterschool program you’d like to incorporate this curriculum into, reach out at: [email protected]
Photos by: Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate
About the Author
Melody Irvine, Media Coordinator, Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate
Additional Resources
Apply Now: American Climate Leadership Awards 2026
Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Children and Youth Report 2023
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