The Climate Crisis Trial Role Play
Provided by: Zinn Education Project|Published on: March 10, 2025
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Activity - Classroom
Subjects: Civics, History
Authors: Bill Bigelow
Region: United States
Languages: English
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
- In this activity from the Zinn Education Project, students will participate in a mock trial where they will support their position on who carries the blame for causing the climate crisis.
- Students will role-play as the U.S. government, U.S. consumers, the governments of China, India, and other developing countries, fossil fuel companies, and capitalism.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This is an actively engaging way for students to discuss who is at fault for the climate crisis.
- Students will enjoy arguing their points while exercising critical thinking skills.
Prerequisites
- Teachers will need to create a free account to download the resource.
- Students should have some familiarity with the law and court proceedings. Students should know the terms defense, prosecution, and indictment.
- Additionally, students should understand the causes and impacts of climate change.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Language arts teachers can use this role play as an exercise in argumentative speaking. Teachers can give students time to research their role and the other defendants and have them cite evidence to support their arguments.
- Teachers can invite other students or community members to observe the trial, possibly recruiting them as jurors so all students can participate in the trial.
- After this activity, students can research real court cases dealing with climate change. The lesson The Constitution and Climate Change discusses the Julianna court case and can be an interesting resource to use after the role-playing activity.
- If students enjoyed this role-playing, they may enjoy other simulations, such as CFR Education's Global Climate Change Policy Simulation.
Through a role-play, students will learn about the root cause of climate change, the concept of climate and environmental justice, who and what is responsible, and the importance of collective action in addressing the climate crisis. It includes teacher testimonies about how students find the lesson plan fascinating and engaging. This lesson is advised for instructional purposes.
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 →
