Climate Prompts: Fact or Fiction?
Activity - Classroom
Grades9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Civics, English Language Arts
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 →
Provided by Council on Foreign Relations
What it is
- This activity is a "where do you stand" discussion exercise in which an instructor reads a series of climate change prompts aloud and students position themselves along a physical spectrum from agree to disagree.
- Each prompt is based on a common misconception about climate change and is paired with a linked reading that corrects it, giving students a structured way to examine and dismantle misunderstandings while practicing civil discourse.
Teaching tips
Classroom Implementation:
- Use this activity at the beginning of a unit on climate change to surface students' misconceptions; optionally, return to the activity at the end of the unit to let students see how their understanding has shifted.
- Establish shared norms for civil disagreement, such as attacking arguments and not people, before beginning.
- Assign the linked readings that accompany each prompt as follow-up so students can compare their initial stance with the evidence and revise their thinking.
Differentiation:
- Use a quiz-based platform such as Kahoot! as an alternative to the physical spectrum to maintain student anonymity.
- Have students hold up "agree," "disagree," and "maybe" signs from their seats instead of sorting themselves across the classroom if space is limited.
Options for Action:
- Have pairs of students dive deeper into one of the prompts, create an infographic that clarifies the misconception, and share it with the school community.
From the scientist review
This resource is a collection of fifteen prompts designed to foster classroom discussion about climate change. Each prompt is accompanied by a linked resource that presents clear facts. Many climate myths and common misunderstandings are addressed among these prompts, all of which are corrected in the linked resources. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Ready to use it?
Hosted on education.cfr.org
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
