Green Careers and ELA Lesson: Cow Burps & Methane Emissions
Lesson Plan
3 hoursGrades6, 7, 8English Language Arts, Career Skills
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 →
Written by Nita Seng, Ben Charles
About this lesson
Students investigate methane emissions in agriculture and explore strategies for reducing them. They also research innovative solutions and climate-related careers focused on sustainability and methane reduction.
Inquire: Students analyze a case study about cow farming, methane emissions, and the impact on climate change.
Investigate: Students participate in a role-play and reflect on the leadership qualities and experience needed to put climate solutions into practice.
Inspire: Students select either an agricultural or entrepreneurial pathway to develop a comprehensive research-based project on climate solutions and then explore climate-related careers of interest.
Preview the lesson plan
Better on a bigger screen? Open it in its own tab.View Lesson Plan
Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Suggestions
- This lesson is designed to be completed over several days or class periods. Each section should be at least one class period or day, with the option to extend for time or discussion.
- Parts 2 and 3 in the Investigate section can be completed over two days. Alternatively, Part 3 can be assigned for homework with a classroom share-out the following day.
- The Inspire section should be extended over several class periods.
- The student research, Venn diagram, and green new careers quiz at the end of the Inspire section can be assigned for homework.
- Community members, business owners, or experts in their fields can be invited in as speakers or mentors while students work on specific pathways.
- This lesson allows students to connect to their strengths in ways that make sense. It is designed to encourage students to bring in diverse, unexpected thoughts to the conversation.
- This lesson can be taught during a research unit to explore real-world solutions to climate problems such as methane emissions.
- This lesson can be used to reinforce research, collaboration, and leadership skills while examining careers in sustainability.
- This lesson may also be taught in Technology Education classes by focusing on the engineering process outlined here.
- Final student deliverables from the Inspire section can be used as an assessment.
Prerequisites
- Teachers may choose to provide additional methane context using Climate-Smart Farm activities or “Planet-Friendly Foods for Gassy Cows?” article.
- Be aware that discussions about climate change and agricultural practices may bring up personal or community connections; ensure a respectful discussion environment.
- Teachers may want to use this community agreement template.
- Teachers may want to use and prepare specific templates for students to use in the Inspire section. These may include brainstorming diagrams, visual options, or other specific materials.
Differentiation
- Students can use the provided graphic organizer to chunk the case studies and organize their research. Additionally, teachers can use their own graphic organizers or research templates.
- The readings in Parts 2 & 3 can be read as a whole class activity to support understanding and address any collective questions. Additionally, teachers can ask guiding questions targeting reading comprehension before students complete tasks in Parts 2 and 3.
- Any of the reflection questions can be used as oral discussion questions with a partner or think-pair-share before a written response.
- Students can research additional climate innovations and present their findings. Some examples include vertical farming and regenerative agriculture.
- Students can develop a mock pitch for a startup focused on methane reduction, incorporating economic and scientific reasoning.
From the scientist review
The impact of methane emissions from cow burps on climate change is examined in this lesson. Despite the fact that methane emissions and climate change are significantly correlated, the lesson looks at approaches to mitigate methane emissions from cow burps and career paths that may green the agricultural sector. This lesson has passed our scientific review.
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
About the teacher writers
Nita Seng
Chief Innovation Officer
Nita Seng, MBA, Ed.M., is SubjectToClimate's Chief Innovation Officer. She brings nearly 15 years of experience spanning classroom teaching, instructional design, and educational leadership, including roles at Brooke Charter Schools and Para Los Niños. At SubjectToClimate, she leads the Innovation Department, building the organization's capacity to experiment, learn, and adapt in a rapidly changing climate education landscape. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Assumption University, a Master of Education in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and Teaching from Wellesley College. Outside of work, Nita has completed multiple yoga teacher training programs in Rishikesh and Mysore, India.
Ben Charles
Chief of Partnerships and Communication
Ben Charles holds a Master's Degree in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. He has nine years of experience teaching grades 3–7 across multiple subject areas. His expertise includes interdisciplinary instruction designed to support diverse learners and foster meaningful student engagement
