Overcoming Eco Anxiety

• New lesson editor
• PSHE
• Geography
• +3
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• BTEC, GCSE

Introduction

Welcome to this lesson on overcoming eco-anxiety. There are a range of activities here including polls, open questions, and word cloud with categories. There are also some lovely sloths here!

Overcoming Eco Anxiety

Overcoming Eco Anxiety

Hello and welcome to this lesson on Overcoming Eco-Anxiety.

Lots of young people are rightfully distressed about the appallingly slow progress of most world governments in addressing climate issues.

But what happens when this frustration becomes anxiety? How do we help young people and empower them to help create the future they want to live in?

This lesson is a starting point to address this,

Note: do not adjust your screen - the slides get subtly progressively brighter as it moves toward the solution stage!

Lesson Objectives

Lesson Objectives

To understand what eco-anxiety is, recognise it as a normal response, and learn "Action-Based" coping mechanisms.

Lesson objectives page.

How often do you feel worried or overwhelmed when you see news about the climate or environment?

1

Almost every day.

2

Sometimes, usually after a specific news story.

3

Rarely.

4

I try not to look at environmental news at all.

Explain that feeling this way is a rational response to a real challenge—it shows you care. It’s not a "disorder," but a signal that needs managing.

This is a simple starter with a text based poll.

What is Eco-Anxiety?

What is Eco-Anxiety?

• The Definition: A chronic fear of environmental doom or the feeling of being overwhelmed by the scale of climate change.

• Symptoms: Frustration with older generations, "doom-scrolling" through negative news, or feeling that individual actions don't matter.

• The Reframing: Anxiety is actually "energy" without a place to go. If we give that energy a direction (action), the anxiety often lessens.

An information slide to contextualise the issue.

Things you can control

Things you can't control

What can you control about the environment? What can't you control?

Things you can control

Things you can't control

This is a word cloud with categories. You can draw out further discussion here.

Curate Your Feed

Curate Your Feed

• The "Negative Bias" of news can make the world seem worse than it is.

  
  

• Balance "Doom-scrolling" with "Hope-scrolling."

  
  

• Find accounts or news sites dedicated to Solutions Journalism (e.g., Positive News, The Progress Network, or the Good News Network).

Advice slide

Find one positive environmental story from the last year and share it with the class

This open question could either be driven from memory or you could set your learners to find stories and share them here.

Nature Connection

Nature Connection

• You cannot protect what you don't love.

  
  

• Spend time in nature—not to "save" it, but just to be in it.

• Why it works: Research shows that "Green Exercise" or "Forest Bathing" significantly lowers cortisol (the stress hormone).

• Activity: Set a challenge to spend 15 minutes outside this evening without looking at your phone.

Safety Note

Never go off on your own without permission - tell your parent/guardian where you are going. Some natural spaces can be dangerous or on private land. Enjoy nature responsibly!

advice slide with a safety note!

Localism vs. Globalism

Localism vs. Globalism

• You aren't responsible for saving the whole planet, but you can help save your "patch."

• Examples of "Micro-Wins":

  Joining a local community garden.

  Writing one letter to your local MP or councillor about a specific local issue (like river pollution in the West Country).

  Organising a clothes swap at school.

• Seeing tangible results in your own neighbourhood is the best antidote to feeling "powerless."

Introducing the idea of 'micro-wins' - small actions that can be done to help with eco=anxiety.

Advice and Support

Advice and Support

The 24-Hour Rule: Take a 24-hour break from all news if you feel a "spike" in anxiety.

The Climate Psychology Alliance: A great UK-based resource for further reading and support.

Talk to an adult you trust if you are suffering with anxiety of any kind.

More advice and a web link here.

What is one 'Micro-Win' or small action you can take this week to feel more in control?

This open question is an exit ticket but could be used in a broader class discussion.

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The sloth picture - from the AI tools in LessonUp - was so good I had to include it here as an Easter egg! Just look at how happy they are.....

Feel free to delete or resize! It will only appear if you hit the spacebar on the slide!

I hope you enjoyed this lesson and remember there are lots more topical lessons covering a variety of topics.