This is the most recent update on the "Six Americas" from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
The "Six Americas" are six groups based on their opinion of climate change. These six groups are Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The article features an embedded image showing the Six Americas over time, from 2008 to 2021.
It allows students to see how perspectives have changed and that more people are becoming aware of the climate crisis.
Additional Prerequisites
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication has robust public opinion data. These interactive climate opinion maps are a great place to explore.
Differentiation
Students can design and conduct a survey of their classmates and teachers in school to see their views on climate change. This would be a great interdisciplinary activity, where students could graph their results and write a short report on their findings.
Students could take the Six Americas Super Short Survey to see if they are Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, or Dismissive.
Scientist Notes
The resource outlines a survey to investigate behavioral and strategic communication patterns towards climate change. The method used in delineating the six groups for the study is appropriate, and the resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.10.9-12 Analyze the impact and the appropriate roles of personal interests and perspectives on the application of civic virtues, democratic principles, constitutional rights, and human rights.
Dimension 4: Communicating and Critiquing Conclusions
D4.2.9-12 Construct explanations using sound reasoning, correct sequence (linear or non-linear), examples, and details with significant and pertinent information and data, while acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of the explanation given its purpose (e.g., cause and effect, chronological, procedural, technical).
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: History/Social Studies (6-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.3 Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.
