3 Strategies for Effectively Talking About Climate Change
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12English Language Arts
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Provided by TED
What it is
- This TED video features John Marshall, a communications strategist, who shares three approaches for effective climate change communication: use simple and universal language, make it matter to individuals personally, and show how it matters to specific groups.
- These strategies connect climate change to personal identity, which is more impactful and motivating.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The video offers explanations and examples of each strategy.
- There is a transcript with a tracking feature to help students follow along with the speaker.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with basic climate change vocabulary including emissions, greenhouse gases, carbon, methane, net-zero, and anthropogenic.
Differentiation
- Students can practice having climate change conversations, where they implement the three strategies mentioned in the video.
- Students in ELA classes can analyze the author's purpose, point of view, and reasoning.
- Students can do a writing assignment on how climate change impacts their community and how they can effectively communicate that message to others.
- Other resources related to these topics include this digital text on evidence-based communication tips and this article on seven principles for visual climate change communication.
From the scientist review
This 8-minute TED talk highlights three strategies for more effectively framing climate communication based on the latest understanding of messaging and persuasion. This resource is clear with easy, applicable strategies that can be implemented quickly within local communities. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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