This animated Nature Conservancy video takes a unique approach by presenting this information as if we had already solved our climate and planetary crises by working with nature.
It discusses the need to incorporate natural solutions to climate change that have the capacity to sequester and store massive amounts of CO2.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The images and infographics used make it very easy to follow and understand.
Additional Prerequisites
To get an idea of how much carbon can be removed by nature you can also reference this table that provides estimates of carbon removal from various activities, such as tropical forest restoration.
Differentiation
ELA classes could use this video as an example of presenting information from a different perspective or how to use storytelling to convey complex or scientific information.
Biology and environmental science students could use this video as a hook for lessons on photosynthesis, the carbon cycle, decomposition, nutrient cycling, ecology, cellular respiration, or ecosystems.
The resource explains the need to use nature to restore forests and reduce global carbon footprint. Renewable energy is an option to achieving carbon neutrality but should be complemented with nature-based solutions. This video is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
HS-ESS2-2 Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
HS-ESS3-6 Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
HS-LS2-5 Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
