What are the difficulties that K-12 students face in understanding climate change?

Abstract

This article constitutes a literature review on the difficulties that students face in understanding climate change. The review examines related research from a social constructivist and ecological systems perspective and highlights the difficulties faced in preparing this generation for the global challenge. This review sheds light on the existing difficulties in understanding climate change, which stem from students themselves, from teachers and from factors that are within and beyond the K-12 education system. Further, the review examines the differences in the inclusion of climate change across different grades and different subject areas, highlighting gaps and areas which can assist student understanding. A summary, implications for further research and limitations for the present review are included.