Jennifer Williams

Teacher

I am a certified teacher with a Master's in Environmental Education and am passionate about connecting youth to nature. I spent the majority of the last decade working for ship-based programs. First, I worked for Class Afloat, teaching for a Canadian high school situated on a tall ship. That experience was followed by Students on Ice, leading youth expeditions to the Arctic focusing on environmental and social programming. I am now based full-time in Ottawa, Canada substitute teaching coupled with other values-based projects supporting youth. When I'm not working you can find me out on the Ottawa River or in Gatineau Park hiking or cross-country skiing, making soap, or continuing to challenge myself in the quest to live a single-use plastic-free lifestyle.

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan

The Arctic: Infographics and Data Lesson
This lesson introduces students to the impacts of climate change on the Arctic. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn about the circumpolar Arctic and its geography and explore infographics as a way of conveying information about climate change impacts in the Arctic.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students watch a short video from the youth perspective about the impacts of climate change in one Canadian Arctic community and learn more about how climate change is impacting the Arctic.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students research one of their questions and design an infographic.
Grade 6-8
Subject Geography,English Language Arts
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

The Arctic: Narrative Writing Lesson

In this lesson, students learn some of the impacts climate change is having on the Arctic, hear youth perspectives about the impacts of climate change, and write their own personal climate stories.


Step 1 - Inquire: Students do a gallery walk of infographics about climate change impacts on the Arctic and brainstorm how climate change might affect the people who live there.


Step 2 - Investigate: Students watch a video of an Alaskan youth sharing the impacts of climate on his community, write down key words or phrases that stand out as they watch, and brainstorm a list of components that can be included in a climate story.


Step 3 - Inspire: Students write their own personal climate stories, revise their stories, share their climate stories in small groups, and discuss the differences between their personal climate stories and Nelson’s climate story as a class.

Grade 6-8
Subject English Language Arts
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

The Arctic: Food Security Lesson
In this lesson, students explore the connection between climate change and food security in the Arctic, understand the impacts on the Inuit way of life, and write a persuasive piece on a potential solution.

Inquire: Students are introduced to the complexities of Arctic food systems through images and build an understanding of the definition of food security globally and specifically in the circumpolar Arctic.
Investigate: Students read about food security and share their learning in a jigsaw activity.
Inspire: Students reflect on what might be getting in the way of food security in the Arctic, brainstorm how they can be part of the solution, and write a persuasive piece.
Grade 6-8
Subject Geography,English Language Arts
Resource Type Lesson Plan
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