Young Voices for the Planet: Words Have Power
Provided by: Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Civics, Health
Authors: Young Voices for the Planet
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video presents the story of Jaysa Hunter-Mellers, a young activist from Bridgeport, Connecticut whose testimony helped shut down a coal-fired power plant.
- Students will see that children can fight for environmental justice and address environmental threats through civic actions and words.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video and the additional links in the description can inspire students to take action to protect the environment.
- This video has a powerful message related to environmental justice, environmental racism, and one person's ability to make change.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the following concepts: air pollution, environmental racism, activism, and burning fossil fuels.
- Teachers can check out the various articles and videos on Jaysa's awards, projects, and press releases.
Differentiation & Implementation
- In ELA classes, teachers can show students the video and ask them to write a paragraph about the impact of words to make a positive change.
- In art classes, teachers can ask students to make a piece of art that depicts the powerful words Jaysa Hunter-Mellers.
- This video can be used for a class discussion about environmental racism.
- It can be used as a starting point for a lesson on actions to restore the environment or on air pollution and its impacts on human health.
This resource is a story of climate activism. Additional links are also recommended to inspire students to lead in climate conversations and take urgent action to restore their environment.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
