Lesson: Burning Up

Write the term climate change on a physical or digital classroom board. Ask students to add images, phrases, or words they associate with that term. Prompt them to think about ways climate change may affect their own community. Note: Be sensitive to students affected by natural disasters worsened by climate change, such as wildfires. Discuss responses. Ask: What causes and effects of climate change do you want to learn more about? Share the “What Do You Know?” KWLS graphic organizer and have students add to the first two sections. Ask students how they could answer the questions they have about climate change.

Preview the article. Ask: Which visuals and text grab your attention? Why? Read the introductory text. Then watch the video “All About Climate Change.” Let students add to their KWLS chart. Summarize what they learned and questions they still have.

Distribute the skills sheet “Climate Facts and Figures.” Have groups of students finish reading the article and then complete the skills sheet. Reconvene as a class and add additional information to their KWLS charts about the causes and effects of, as well as solutions to, climate change.

Tell students that there is a lot of misinformation about climate change and that it is important to be aware of reliable sources when conducting research. (For more Science World resources, use the video “Fake News” and the skills sheet “Check the Source.”) Ask students to share information they have heard about climate change that they think is not based on scientific evidence. Ask: What do you think is most important to share with others about climate change? Distribute the skills sheet “Climate Communication.” Ask: How can information about climate change be effectively shared? Revisit what students shared about the article’s visuals in Step 2. Have students conduct research, share their messages, and seek peer feedback about their posters. Then have all students share their final designs.

Have students examine their finished KWLS chart and highlight what they think the most important points are in each row before turning it in. Then have students complete the article’s “Check for Understanding.”

⇨ VIDEO EXTRA: Watch a video about the causes and effects of climate change.