The Project:
During the last week of school, we will be creating a climate change project. We will spend two and a half days researching using iPads and the resources below. Each student in your group of four will be given a different essential question to research using videos and readings. Each student will complete C-notes about their essential question (each on a different piece of paper). After meeting with a group of students with the same question as you, you will present your findings to your group (who have different questions). With a basic understanding of Climate Change, it’s causes, consequences, and solutions, you will be ready to design your project.
Essential Questions for C-notes:
#1 How are CO2 and other greenhouse gases changing the atmosphere through the greenhouse effect which is causing average global temperatures on our planet to increase leading to climate change?
#2 What human activities are the main contributors of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that lead to increased global temperatures causing climate changes? (keywords: carbon footprint, pollution, transportation, fossil fuels, industry)
#3 What are some ways that humans can reduce the impact of Climate Change through individual behavioral changes, technological solutions, alternative energy development, transportation solutions, and global climate pacts? (key ideas: wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, Electric Vehicles, mass transit, human-powered transportation, carbon-neutral cities)
#4 What are some effects of climate change that are currently occurring or are predicted for the future if global societies continue to produce CO2 and greenhouse gases at the level we are today? (key ideas: severe storms, sea level rises, acidification of oceans, forest destruction by insects, drought, flooding, high temperatures, more precipitation, melting ice sheets, loss of habitats, extinctions)
The Project:
You will use the information you learn on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday to design a board game about climate change that displays your learning. You can model it after an existing game that is competitive or cooperative or use your creativity to come up with something new. We will do some brainstorming as a class before you begin. eg: your money could be in the form of Carbon Credits or Debits, money or CO2 molecules, Maybe you model it after the game Sorry where you may need to go back spaces for unfortunate events, or you could create a collaborative game like Pandemic where the whole team works together to avert a Climate Crisis but when you get certain cards or land on certain spaces you have to increase the temperature on a thermometer. Be creative, but be sure to show what you have learned as a group as well.
Reading Resources:
What is Climate? Question 1 (good intro)
What is the greenhouse effect? Question 1
Climate Science for Kids Question 1
How people affect Climate. Question 2 (good intro)
Climate Change Contributions Question 2
Sources of Greenhouse Gases Question 2
Solutions Question 3 (good intro)
What you can do EPA Question 3
Consequences of rapid climate change. Question 4 (good intro)
What is already happening EPA archive Question 4
Consequences of Climate Change (Environmental Defense Fund)Question 4
Climate Change Indicators EPA Question 4
Other General Resources (with sections on all questions)
Global Warming 101 (Natural Resources Defense Council NRDC)
Climate Change 101 (Climate Reality Project)
Climate Change Archives 2017 Environmental Protection Agency
Climate Basics for Kids Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Video Resources
All Questions
Climate Science What You Need to Know 6 minutes
Climate Change 101 with Bill Nye
Question 1 What is Climate Change (all general resources above have info too)
What is Carbon Dioxide? Fossil Fuels Carbon Cycle
Question 2: Human Activities
Causes & Effects National Geographic
Question 3 Solutions
Top Ten Energy Sources for Future 13 minutes
Solutions Transportation 18 minute
Question 4 Probable impacts
Global Warming vs Climate Change (5 years old)data/math
Impacts of sea level rise (artists rendition)
Hank Green: What people get wrong about Climate Change Hurricanes/storms
What will likely happen with a 2-degree increase?
Youth Activists
Greta Thunberg are we running out of time?
Materials for Game:
You will be provided with a 1/4 of a piece of poster board, any number of card stock cards you might need, dice and some plastic pieces or math markers. Let me know if you need anything else, or bring what you need from home