Climate Bingo: An Immersive, Interactive Introduction to Climate Science

We are in an era of rapid global change, one which science suggests will continue for generations to come. Teachers are positioned to prepare learners to tackle the challenges of climate change, through activities which deepen their conceptual understanding and connection to the natural world. In this article we present Climate Bingo, an immersive, interactive experience that leverages 360° photos, interactive media, and diverse reflective prompts to promote rich student learning and engagement. Through classroom observations and student surveys, we find that sixth- and eighth-grade students enjoy the activity and learn from its various components. We find interesting differences between the grade bands; the younger students enjoy Climate Bingo’s collaborative nature while the older students thrive in the competitive atmosphere the game elicits. Furthermore, we see developmentally appropriate differences in the sense-making of these two groups around climate and its role and impact in an ecosystem. Overall, we find Climate Bingo is an effective introductory activity to climate and climate science for middle-school students and share it with other teachers as a way to transport learners to other climate regions from the convenience of their classroom.