This Los Angeles-student-hosted podcast episode centers on expert guest, Shawn Sweeney, Associate Vice President of Communications and Policy at the Jane Goodall Institute, who introduces listeners to a climate action group, Roots And Shoots.
This podcast is Episode 14 of the series "We The Children," in which child host, Zachary, speaks with a variety of climate change experts in the hope of educating other children about the importance of combating climate change now.
Through his work with Roots And Shoots, Mr. Sweeney discusses how today's students are stewards of our planet and how young people can help Earth in a variety of ways.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The podcast includes a trivia game, "wacky" weather, and a weekly action step, so students will remain engaged throughout the presentation.
There are several sound effects which capture the attention of the listener.
Both the child host and the expert guest project a sense of positivity toward the younger generation as stewards of the planet.
Additional Prerequisites
There are ads before, during, and after the podcast.
Students should understand climate change, its causes, and its impacts.
There are references to "The Wizard Of Oz" and "Lord Of The Rings."
There are several references to Dr. Jane Goodall, so teachers may wish to have a photo of her, and perhaps a brief introductory video, as a lead-in to the podcast.
Differentiation
The expert guest emphasizes the importance of storytelling, so English teachers may wish to have students listen, and then create written stories that include the information in the presentation.
A story about a climate hero is set in Tanzania and concerns fuel-efficient stoves. so social studies teachers can create a geography lesson, as well a lesson on modern inventions designed to help combat global warming.
There is much talk of chimpanzees, so visual aids will be effective as the stories are told. After listening to the podcast, students in science classes can research more about Jane Goodall and her work with chimpanzees.
Regenerative farming is the action step topic, so science teachers can have students research that phrase, and then participate in mini-labs incorporating regenerative practices.
Teachers can expand on this introduction to Roots and Shoots by facilitating a Roots and Shoots project. There are a few in the SubjectToClimate database to start with.
Scientist Notes
This podcast from We the Children discusses current issues surrounding climate change. Each podcast presents an interview with a climate expert, and a discussion about organizations that are helping in the fight against climate change. This podcast is well researched and expert analysis of the climate crisis is discussed.
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.
5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Geography
D2.Geo.9.6-8 Evaluate the influences of long-term human-induced environmental change on spatial patterns of conflict and cooperation.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.2 Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.2 Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.
