Pupils lead the way at ‘Think Climate!’ Celebration Event

17th June 2025

🌍✨ What an empowering day for climate education! ✨🌍

Over 100 pupils from 11 schools across South Yorkshire came together at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) today to celebrate their achievements as part of our Think Climate! Project in a Box — a dynamic initiative from South Yorkshire Children’s University in partnership with SHU, and devised by Lee Jowitt, Joelle Halliday and Becky Musonda.

Across the academic year, more than 50 CU member schools took part in this powerful programme, which included 8 action-packed sessions designed to turn young learners into junior climate activists. Rather than focusing on the doom and gloom, Think Climate! gave pupils practical challenges and tangible ways to take positive action for the planet — and build their confidence, creativity and life skills along the way.

💡 Activities completed throughout the year have included:
🌱 Growing green roof tiles
🎨 Creating recycled, plantable greetings cards
🍕 Analysing the carbon footprint of a pizza
💨 Constructing wind-powered land yachts
🛁 Making plastic-free bath bombs
🌧 Exploring sustainable drainage
👕 Investigating the durability of school uniforms

At today’s celebration event held at Sheffield Institute of Education, pupils built habitats for invertebrates, made seed bombs and plant pots for pea seedlings, created art from recycled magazines and older students reflected on how they can be Climate Leaders, sharing what they’ve learned with their peers.

And to finish? A powerful climate march led by the pupils themselves — full of colour, creativity and a clear message:

🗣️ “What do we want? Climate Action! When do we want it? NOW!”