Birmingham pupils learn about dangers of climate change through immersive VR experience ahead of World Environment Day

The toolkit is the result of a partnership between Avantis Education, creator of ClassVR, the world’s first virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) solution designed exclusively for education and the Rainforest Foundation UK. While the most immersive experience comes through ClassVR headsets, the resource is available to all schools via any internet enabled device.

Surma Begum, Computing Lead, Bordesley Green said: “The Future Forests experience provided a profound glimpse into the catastrophic effects of deforestation, revealing a future where rainforests might be lost entirely. The children were visibly moved, expressing shock at the potential devastation and its implications for biodiversity and climate. This experience ignited a meaningful discussion about the various motives behind deforestation, such as agriculture and urban expansion. Importantly, it highlighted actions we can take collectively, like advocating for sustainable practices and raising awareness in our communities, to combat this urgent issue.”

With the United Nations’ World Environment Day taking place this week, it’s the perfect time for pupils to learn about issues impacting our world, like climate change and deforestation.

Powered by ClassVR, the Future Forests experience takes pupils on a journey that shows them the beauty of our earth, the dangers it’s facing, and the consequences of doing nothing. The experience highlights real environmental challenges and shows the impact of human activity on the Amazon rainforest across several countries in South America.

Pupils are taken on a trip through time to experience alternate futures of the same rainforest. They are shown the stark realities of deforestation and habitat destruction as well as hopes for sustainability and restoration.

The Toolkit has been created to put pupils at the forefront of rainforest destruction. It challenges them to think about the impact of human activity on rainforest ecosystems and the longer-term effects on global climate, and how natural habitats can be restored and sustained in future.

One pupil said: “It was so much fun looking at the rainforests on the VR headsets, I learnt about the animals and their habitats. It was nice when we went into the future forest where there was hope. They looked happy and like they had more people looking after them. It was horrible when I went into the deforestation scene. Everything looked burned and the animals didn’t have anywhere to live anymore. I will look for Fairtrade items when I go to the shop to help the rainforests.”

The Future Forests Toolkit was launched at global education technology show Bett 2025 in London earlier this year. It demonstrates how VR can be a powerful tool for fostering emotional engagement and understanding of climate change among pupils.

It comes after a recent report from the Department for Education raised concerns over levels of climate literacy among school leavers.

Gillian Rhodes, Chief Marketing Officer of Avantis Education, said: “With World Environment Day taking place this week, it’s a good time to reflect on the role education can play in raising awareness of environmental issues.

“Climate change is one of the pressing issues of our time, but the recent DfE report showed that only a third (34%) of students accurately defined climate change mitigation. By partnering with Rainforest Foundation UK to develop the Future Forests toolkit, we’re helping schools to deliver more impactful lessons on how to mitigate climate change.

“While VR is not a panacea for climate action, it allows students to experience the impacts of climate change in an immersive way, helping them to develop a deeper understanding and sense of urgency to act.

Schools across the West Midlands can access the Future Forest Toolkit for free here: www.ClassVR.com/FutureForest