In this video, climate change denial talking points are recited alongside other assertions that are universally seen as false.
At the video's end, it's made clear that the Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank funded by fossil fuel companies, is trying to bring climate change denial curriculum into American schools.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video is concise, well-produced, and thought provoking.
This video makes a connection between school curriculums and the worldwide fight against climate change.
Additional Prerequisites
Students must know how to analyze media that makes a point implicitly instead of explicitly.
Students need to have a basic understanding of germ theory, gravity, the addictiveness of cigarettes, heliocentrism, and the Earth's roundness.
Differentiation
This video could supplement a lesson about misinformation, the responsibilities and goals of governments vs. corporations, and regulations on free speech.
This video could supplement a lesson on how greed can lead to economic choices that harm individuals, communities, countries, and the world.
This video could supplement a lesson on how certain politicians are influenced by fossil fuel companies and how this influence impacts their legislation and decision-making.
In a language arts class, this video provides a good exercise for analyzing points of view, reasoning, links among ideas, word choice, tone, and assessing implicit messages.
Scientist Notes
This is a very brief ~1 minute video describing how the information taught to students may not always be the truth. This video would be a good addition to a classroom discussion about climate change and where to find the facts about the changes happening to the planet.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.13.9-12 Evaluate public policies in terms of intended and unintended outcomes, and related consequences.
Dimension 2: Economics
D2.Eco.1.6-8 Explain how economic decisions affect the well-being of individuals, businesses, and society.
D2.Eco.1.9-12 Analyze how incentives influence choices that may result in policies with a range of costs and benefits for different groups.
D2.Eco.3.9-12 Analyze the ways in which incentives influence what is produced and distributed in a market system.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
