Civics and Climate Action Learning Lab

• This resource contains interactive media and multiple videos that explore the three branches of American government, how young people are putting pressure on these branches to address climate change, and how youth mayors can influence climate policy.
• Students will learn that the legislative branch is responsible for making laws, young people can influence the judicial branch by becoming plaintiffs in key lawsuits, and youth mayors can influence climate policy by writing bills and leading town halls related to climate change.
• A comprehensive teacher guide, including six lessons that go along with this learning lab, can be utilized to create an entire civics unit for your classroom.

Positives

• Students will get to see an interview with two high school students, covering a multitude of important and, often, unaddressed topics, such as youth-created policy change, climate change as a generational justice issue, and narratives used to distract the public from the fact that climate change is a systemic issue.
• The Held v. State of Montana case is used as a real-life example for how youth can be involved in climate policy through lawsuits.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• It may be beneficial for students to have a background in federalism and the federal legislative system.
• Students should understand what climate change is and that the use of fossil fuels is a driving force behind climate change.

Differentiation

• The videos can accompany a brainstorming session where students consider how they can advocate for changes in climate policy.
• This resource can augment a classroom activity where students investigate the climate policies of their local and state governments.
• This resource can support a lesson on how cases move through the state and federal court systems.
• This resource can enhance a lesson on the history of American youth activism.