Creating Climate Policies
Grades: 6, 7, 8
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Civics
Authors: ClimateScience
Location: Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This activity provides an introduction to climate change policy by challenging students to write their own policies.
- Students analyze their policies by identifying potential drawbacks and considering solutions to those drawbacks.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The students' worksheets include prompts and questions that guide them towards creating their policies.
- This lesson helps develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Additional Prerequisites
- The handouts can be printed and used offline.
- Remind students that their policies must be related to climate change mitigation or adaptation. The lesson Mitigation vs. Adaptation can be used to review these terms.
- The ScienceDirect link in "Sources" does not work.
Differentiation
- This activity can be extended by having students research their policies to determine if they have been implemented anywhere before and how successful it was or could potentially be.
- Students can present their policies to the class and discuss the pros and cons of each policy. In the end, students could vote on the policies they think would be most successful.
- If students are unsure where to start, have them think about what matters most to them in their community. Students can also use this Table of Solutions for ideas.
- If students need a refresher on climate change consider using this article by NASA, this video by Crash Course, and this video by ClimateScience.
This resource aims to develop students' critical thinking skills by developing a climate change related policy. The IPCC source provided is excellent and provides all of the information needed to finish this activity. However, please note, the ScienceDirect link does not work. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
