This lesson will prepare students to have a thoughtful conversation about climate change and highlights the importance of listening and engaging respectfully with others.
This resource includes a lesson plan, student worksheet, presentation slides, and two videos.
Teaching Tips
Positives
There are opportunities for the students to role-play and practice their communication skills.
The optional "Youth Climate Story: Climate Denial in Florida" video gives an example of a young person engaging in difficult climate conversations.
Additional Prerequisites
In order to have meaningful climate conversations, teachers and students should know basic facts about climate science, the impacts of climate change on people and the planet, and some solutions.
The teacher must make a free account to access the materials.
You must click the title of the first video for the correct link to open.
Differentiation
The student worksheet provides an excellent scaffolding tool for ELL and students with learning differences.
For the "Climate Conversation Guide," consider having fill-in-the-blank prompts for students. For example, "I will have a conversation with _________."
This lesson could follow any lesson or discussion about climate change and this other resource is directly related to talking about climate change.
The OARTAC model is appropriate for a good climate conversations, without being persuasive. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
English Language Arts
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
11-12.SL.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11-12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Science
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS.ESS3.1 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
