In this activity students will conduct research and create a poster about a notable climate activist.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This resource introduces 20 climate activists to students, including many BIPOC activists like Vic Barrett, Isra Hirsi, Xiye Bastida, and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez.
This is a great lesson for public speaking practice.
Additional Prerequisites
If the educator is familiar with a handful of the activists on the list, facilitation could be seamless.
Notable activists not on this list include Bill McKibben, Vanessa Nakate, Katharine Hayhoe, and Varshini Prakash.
Differentiation
Students could work in groups and share roles in this project. Students who like creating visual art can pair with students who like to conduct research, read, and write.
Make sure students choose different activists so presentations are not repetitive.
Students could create a video about their chosen climate activist instead of creating a poster.
Other resources on climate activism include this video about Greta Thunberg's work, this video highlighting four youth activists, this video about the youth climate movement, and this SubjectToClimate lesson plan.
Scientist Notes
This activity provides a list of notable climate activists and has students in pairs/groups research and prepare a poster describing the work and action of their selected climate activist. There is not much information within the lesson itself, so students will need to use the internet or other sources for their research. This activity is recommended for teaching.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 4: Taking Informed Action
D4.7.6-8 Assess their individual and collective capacities to take action to address local, regional, and global problems, taking into account a range of possible levers of power, strategies, and potential outcomes.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4 Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.5 Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.4 Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.5 Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.4 Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well-chosen details; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.5 Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.
