Green Careers: A Public Speaking Lesson

In this lesson, students act as science communicators to explain patterns in temperature changes over time.

Inquire: Students are introduced to the STEM career of science communication, and learn key information about the job.

Investigate: Students consider the best methods for sharing weather and climate data with a specific audience.

Inspire: Students share climate data as science communicators.

Suggestions

• This lesson aligns with Hawai'i's Nā Hopena A'o HĀ-BREATH Framework.

• This lesson can be used as a Career and Technical Education pathways introduction.

• The lesson can be adapted to use in locations around the world. Exchange the graphs with local data from your area.

• The Investigate section can be completed over two or three classes depending on time.

• This lesson introduces the importance of voice in speaking and writing.

Prerequisites

• Materials and handouts should be printed prior to the start of the lesson.

• If possible, print the graphs in color or have students refer to the digital versions of the graphs using a device.

• Students should have a basic understanding of reading graphs. For an introduction to reading different types of graphs, see the companion lesson, What Do These Numbers Mean?
  

Differentiation

• Students can be challenged to present to another class or a larger audience.

• You may choose to use one graph to write a Science Communicator Script together for additional practice. Then the class can split into two groups to work on a second graph and script in pairs.

• Sentence frames for the Science Communicator Script are available in the Student Document. Students may use these frames as a guide when writing their script.

• You may use the Presentation Rubric for students to self or peer review.

Students can gain an understanding of the foundations of climate science communication in this lesson. It gives them evidence to motivate them to become skilled communicators of climate science. After carefully examining all the resources, the lesson is approved for learning.

Primary Standards

• Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
  • Speaking & Listening (K-12)
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.4 Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.6 Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.4 Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.6 Differentiate between contexts that call for formal English (e.g., presenting ideas) and situations where informal discourse is appropriate (e.g., small-group discussion); use formal English when appropriate to task and situation.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.4 Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, using formal English when appropriate to task and situation.