This TED-Ed animated video explains that, while a frog would detect heat and jump out of warming pot, humans haven't made the changes necessary to slow the warming of our planet, even though we have the knowledge and power to do so.
Students will learn about fossil fuels, greenhouse gasses, warming projections, and why it is necessary to achieve net-zero emissions as quickly as we can.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The animation in the video is entertaining, colorful, and engaging.
This is a wonderful, succinct video on basic concepts of climate change and taking climate action.
Additional Prerequisites
Students who are less familiar with the Celsius temperature scale could be given the conversion in degrees Fahrenheit.
Students must create a free account in order to use the interactive questions.
Differentiation
It may be helpful to show the video more than once since it is short and includes a lot of foundational climate change information.
Language arts classes could discuss analogies, focusing on the boiling frog analogy and how it compares to the concept of climate change and humans.
Students could work in groups to create posters or advertisements encouraging others to take personal action to help reduce climate change using this course as a resource.
After watching the video, art classes could look at this painting and discuss how climate change can be portrayed through art.
Additional resources on this topic include this video by The Climate Reality Project which provides more information on the history of climate change and its impact on humans, as well as this NASA resource which further details the influence of greenhouse gasses.
Scientist Notes
To avoid the worst consequences of climate change, scientists are in agreement that we need to achieve net zero carbon emissions as soon as possible. This resource video from TED-Ed explains why. This resource 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.
MS-ESS3-5 Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Language (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
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.
