Climate
Unit Plan Climate Change
Goal: Students will work in a blended learning environment to understand climate change and its impact on the world.
Objectives: Students will master a basic understanding of climate change. Students will work as climate scientists in groups to research focused questions, present their research, and propose a way to combat climate change. Finally, students will present their completed projects to their classmates.
Audience: High School Environmental Science Class
Recommended Time: 14 days
Unit Schedule
View the link here for the outline of the unit schedule. The unit schedule includes a day-to-day schedule that shows whether students will be working online or face-to-face. The unit schedule also provides daily objectives and links to the related materials or activities. This information can also be found by viewing the daily schedule within this course.
Part 1: Background Information
The first part of the unit is designed to make sure that students understand the basic information about climate change.
Day 1
Today is a face-to-face lesson that will introduce the topic and basic background information. If time permits, students will begin "Climate Scientist Training". Click the links below to find the activities and materials for today.
Climate Scientist Training Presentation
Climate Scientist Training Worksheet
Day 2
Today is an online lesson in which students will complete "Climate Scientist Training". Click the links below to find the activities and materials for today.
Climate Scientist Training Presentation
Climate Scientist Training Worksheet
Day 3
Today is a face-to-face lesson in which students will participate in a class discussion about the work from the previous day. Students will use the information they learned to complete a task. Click the links below to find the activities and materials for today.
Climate Scientist Training Recap and Discussion Presentation
Climate Scientist Training Task Worksheet
Today is a face-to-face lesson in which students will review their learning from the previous three days. They will take a short quiz over the information. After the quiz, they will start Part 2 of the unit. Click the links below to find the activities and materials for today.
Kahoot Activity (review before quiz)
Climate Scientist Job Skills Quiz
Part 2: Research and Project Proposal
In the second part of the unit, students will use skills and knowledge from Part 1 to form groups and research questions related to climate change. They will also propose a project to promote awareness or fight climate change.
Day 4 (Part 2)
After the quiz, students will get information about the group project, sign up for groups, and start working on Part 1 of the project. Click the links below to find the activities and materials for today.
Climate Change Project Directions (Go over the directions for Part 1.)
Climate Change Project Group Sign Up
Climate Change Project Resources (Show this link to students so they know to use it tomorrow.)
Day 5
Today is an online lesson in which students will research their assigned questions. Click the links below to find the activities and materials for today.
Climate Change Project Resources
Day 6
Today is a face-to-face lesson in which students will complete a brief review activity. Students will go over the directions for Part 2 of the project. Students will complete a group check-in form and have time to work on their project. Click the links below to find the activities and materials for today.
Quizlet Activity: Basic Climate Change Vocabulary (Give students practice time, and then have them compete for the fastest time in the scatter game.)
Climate Change Project Directions (Go over the directions for Part 2.)
Days 7 and 8
These days are online lessons in which students have work time to complete Parts 1 and 2 of the project. Students will submit these parts to the teacher by email before the end of Day 8. Click the links below to find the resources for these days.
Climate Change Project Directions
Climate Change Project Resources
Part 3: Final Project
In the third and final part of the unit, students will use their skills and information from Parts 1 and 2 to complete and present a project that is designed to raise awareness or fight climate change. Students will also complete an end of unit reflection.
Day 9
Today is a face-to-face lesson in which students will review basic information about climate change. They will go over the directions for Part 3 of the project and complete a second group check in. They will also sign up for presentation dates. Click the links below to find the activities and materials for today.
Class Activity: Climate Change Jeopardy (Optional: Use the project groups as teams and award extra credit points on the project to the winning team.)
Climate Change Project Directions (Focus on Part 3.)
Group Check-in Handout #2 (Optional: Have students sign up for presentation dates in the order in which they turn in this form.)
Days 10 - 12
These days are online lessons in which students will work on their final projects. Students must email their completed projects to the teacher before the end of Day 12. Click the links below to find the resources for these days.
Climate Change Project Directions
Climate Change Project Resources
Days 13 - 14
These days are face-to-face lessons in which students will present their final projects. When the presentations are finished, students will complete an end of unit reflection. Click the links below to find the resources for these days.
Climate Change Project Rubrics (This paper is designed for teacher use to record grades and comments for students' projects.)