Canada and Climate Change Education: Content Analysis of the Ontario K-12 Curricula

• In Event: Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual iPresentation Only: SIG-Environmental Education Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

Canada lacks a ‘content standard’ framework for selecting, integrating, and synchronizing climate change (CC) concepts and topics into formal curricula. Developing such framework requires identifying gaps in existing Canadian provincial curricula and comparing them with global CC curriculum. To do so, as a first step, this research examines the coverage of climate change concepts in Ontario’s K-12 curriculum, assessing their presence, appropriateness, progression, alignment, and interconnection across grades and subjects. A qualitative analysis of Ontario curricula reveals that the coverage of climate change (CC) concepts and topics is insufficient and misaligned. Specifically, the integration of CC concepts contradicts Bruner’s Spiral Curriculum Model, failing to ensure that key concepts are revisited with increasing complexity across grades and subjects.

Authors

• Rizwan Ahmed, Western University

• Anton Puvirajah, Western University