Lesson plan; Climate report: ‘Uncharted territory’ imperils life on Earth

Lesson plan using the new Climate report: ‘Uncharted territory’ imperils life on Earth”

Competency goals:

• Use a rich, precise, and varied language of a general and subject-specific nature in an appropriate and situation-adapted way both in writing and speaking.
• Produce different types of written and oral academic texts with clear content, appropriate style, and structure.
• Show independent reflection and critical thinking in reading and discussing different types of texts.

Standards:

• English Language Arts Standards for Reading: Informational Text. These standards require students to analyze and comprehend various types of texts, such as news stories, and to compare and contrast the main ideas, structure, and point of view of different sources.
• English Language Arts Standards for Writing. These standards require students to produce clear and coherent writing for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences, such as writing their own uplifting news stories, and to use technology and media to enhance their writing.
• English Language Arts Standards for Speaking and Listening. These standards require students to participate effectively in collaborative discussions, to present information and ideas orally, and to integrate and evaluate information from diverse media sources, such as presenting their uplifting news stories to the class.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will be able to use a rich, precise, and varied language of a general and subject-specific nature in an appropriate and situation-adapted way both in writing and speaking.
• Students will be able to produce different types of written and oral academic texts with clear content, appropriate style, and structure.
• Students will be able to show independent reflection and critical thinking in reading and discussing different types of texts.

The report bound here discusses the findings by an international coalition of climate scientists. The report finds that the Earth’s vital signs have worsened beyond anything humans have yet seen. The authors warn that life on the planet is imperiled. They also note that there has been little progress in combating climate change. The report calls for urgent action to address the crisis.

• The Earth’s vital signs have worsened beyond anything humans have yet seen.
• Life on the planet is imperiled.
• There has been little progress in combating climate change.

The report calls for urgent action to address the crisis, including:

• Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.
• Transitioning toward plant-based diets.
• Scaling up forest protection efforts.
• Adopting international coal elimination and fossil fuel non-proliferation treaties.

Procedure:

1. Begin by asking students what they know about climate change. What are the causes? What are the effects? What are some practical solutions?

2. Next, distribute copies of the article and have students read it independently.

3. After students have finished reading, lead a class discussion on the following questions:

   • What are the main findings of the report?
   • What are the implications of these findings for life on Earth?
   • What are some of the specific recommendations that the scientists make?
   • What are your thoughts on the report? Do you agree with the scientists’ conclusions? Why or why not?
4. Choose one or two of these articles to read:

1. • The Guardian: “Climate report warns that life on Earth is under siege”¹
   • The New York Times: “Climate Crisis Worsens Beyond Anything Humans Have Seen, Scientists Say”²
   • The Washington Post: “Climate report: ‘Uncharted territory’ imperils life on Earth”³
   • BBC News: “Climate change: Earth’s vital signs ‘at record extremes’”⁴
   • ScienceDaily: “Climate report: ‘Uncharted territory’ imperils life on Earth”⁵

2. To assess students’ understanding of the material, have them complete one of the following activities:

   • Write a summary of one of these articles in their own words.
   • Create a presentation or poster that highlights the key findings of the report.
   • Write a letter to a government official or elected representative urging them to take action on climate change.
3. Essay questions 

1. Analyze the scientific evidence presented in the climate change report and discuss its implications for life on Earth.
2. Critically evaluate the suggested solutions to climate change outlined in the report and propose your own recommendations for addressing the crisis.
3. Reflect on the ethical and moral dimensions of climate change and discuss your own responsibilities in taking action to protect the planet.
4. The Role of Technology in Combating Climate Change: Discuss how technological advancements can aid in the fight against climate change. What are some existing technologies and what potential future innovations could make a significant impact?
5. Climate Change Policies and International Cooperation: Evaluate the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate change. How effective have international agreements and policies been so far, and what further actions should be taken?