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Mapping a Personal Story of Environmental Change

Provided by: CLEAN |Published on: November 20, 2025

Activity - Classroom

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Synopsis

In this assignment provided by CLEAN, students will work to create maps that tell a story about how climate change or social changes have impacted a place that is important to them.
The example maps for this assignment are for Alaska, but this resource can be used in classrooms worldwide for many locations.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Geography

Authors: Arctic & Earth SIGNs

Region: Alaska

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

By thinking of climate change in terms of local change, students will better be able to feel the gravity of the issue.
This activity encourages students to channel their creativity and their experiences, keeping them engaged in the learning.

Prerequisites

It may help students complete the map if they have already participated in discussions about how climate change is impacting areas familiar to them.
Students should be familiar with maps and their features.

Differentiation & Implementation

Because all the instructions and background information are on the worksheet handout, this assignment may work as an emergency sub plan activity that teachers can keep on hand. Teachers may want to just add a note that students should wait on Step 5, taking a photo of their map and sending it to the Arctic and Earth SIGNs team, until the teacher returns.
Advanced students can work with ArcGIS or Google Maps to create an interactive map of change.
Teachers can inspire students to turn their maps into data art, similar to those created by Jill Pelto.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

CLEAN

The CLEAN Network is a professionally diverse community of over 630 members committed to improving climate and energy literacy locally, regionally, nationally, and globally in order to enable responsible decisions and actions. The CLEAN Network has been a dynamic group since 2008 and is now led by the CLEAN Leadership Board established in 2016.

Related Teaching Resources

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.