In this media literacy activity, students will watch, summarize, and analyze three videos about climate change, global warming, and what kids can do to help.
Students will learn about how humans have affected the planet through everyday activities, connect the evidence presented to the statements made in the videos, and learn that everyone can do something to help.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This resource includes a downloadable PDF activity plan, tips sheet, and teacher guide.
The "What is Climate Change" video does a really good job of explaining the greenhouse effect in terms appropriate for younger students.
Additional Prerequisites
Teachers must create a free account to access the materials.
The videos are MP4s, so there are no ads but they may take longer to download on slower Internet speeds.
The lesson includes a list of vocabulary terms that students should be familiar with before watching the videos.
The videos may appeal to younger audiences more than older students, but the content is appropriate for the grades identified.
Differentiation
After the lesson, older students could write a reflection paper about their feelings and the messaging in the videos. Do they feel motivated or overwhelmed?
After this lesson, students could research the solutions to climate change that have the biggest impact on reducing global carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and present a plan of action for their community, state, country, or planet to follow to address climate change.
Students could research another kid or adult who has worked to combat climate change and present their findings to the class. The Our Climate Voices articles are a good place to start looking.
Other resources on this topic include this video about a fourth-grade class that converted their classroom to solar power, this library of images on climate solutions, and this project on passing a climate resolution through the school board.
Scientist Notes
This is a great resource, it can aid students to explore different and workable strategies to address climate change. It is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
4-ESS3-2 Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.
5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
HS-ESS3-2 Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
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.
D4.6.3-5 Draw on disciplinary concepts to explain the challenges people have faced and opportunities they have created, in addressing local, regional, and global problems at various times and places.
