SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students identify the main character in a story and identify their character traits.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson allows students to demonstrate traits from 5 scenarios about energy conservation, biodiversity, and waste management. It is suitable to build their passion towards environmental sustainability and stewardship. All materials and activities in the lesson have been reviewed and are appropriate. On that account, this lesson is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-Students have the opportunity for auditory, kinesthetic, and visual learning.
-Students have the opportunity to work independently, in small groups, and in whole group discussions.
-Students are able to share their diverse ideas and perspectives in a variety of creative ways.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Teachers should print handouts prior to the lesson.
-Art supplies are required for comic strips.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-You have many options for how your students read Saving Planet Earthly.
-Students can read independently or in small groups.
-You can read the story out loud to the entire class.
-You may play the audio version while students follow along. The audio version is 8 minutes, 57 seconds long.
-You may read the scenario sheet out loud before students begin acting in the Investigate section.
-Students may be placed in groups of mixed abilities.
-A word bank of personal characteristics can be used to assist students in learning and creating character reactions to scenarios.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students explore an interactive map, learn about Cancer Alley, and take concrete action to address environmental injustice.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson introduces students to environmental justice and asks them to use an EPA mapping tool that shows how polluted an area is. The lesson also includes a video resource from Vox that highlights the area of Louisiana known as “Cancer Alley." To be as perfectly clear as possible, vast amounts of data and evidence show that people of color are disproportionately affected by pollution in the United States, and that higher exposure to pollutants directly correlates to higher incidence of disease. This video was produced in May of 2020, which is quite early on in the pandemic, and as such, some of the numbers presented in it are outdated. This outdated data is only for the numbers given when speaking on COVID-19 mortality rates. For example, the video says that Louisiana’s population is 32% Black (still correct) but Black people account for 56% of COVID-19 deaths. This is no longer the case as of July 2022, and according to data obtained from Louisiana’s government website, Black citizens account for 34% of deaths. While this is still disproportional, it is not as large of a disparity as when the video was produced. The same is true for Michigan, where Black residents now account for 17.5% of deaths but make up 14% of the population (data from michigan.gov). So, while this lesson highlights the importance of environmental justice and is overall scientifically sound, please just take note of the changes in the COVID-19 data.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson clearly connects redlining and environmental racism.
-This lesson shows a concrete example of the effects of systemic racism in the United States.
ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:Some students may never have discussed racism and climate change before. Meet your students where they are and encourage them to ask good questions.
-When teaching this sequence, it’s important to acknowledge the historical facts that have led to this injustice. Here are some resources to help you:
-Dr. Ibram X. Kendi defines racist policy as “any measure that produces or sustains racial inequity between racial groups.” (Source: Article from Penguin Publishing Company)
-Government entities suppressed the Black vote through different means until the Voting Rights Act in 1965. (Source: history.com)
-Redlining was outlawed by the Fair Housing Act in 1968. (Source: ThoughtCo)

DIFFERENTIATION:
-It may be necessary to offer the letter-writing as an extension or an extra credit opportunity.
-Be sensitive to the needs of your students, as systemic racism affects them in different ways.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn Spanish phrases about animals, climates, and simple actions to save energy at home.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson provides elementary knowledge on climate change and biodiversity conservation. It allows students to identify and classify animals in respect to their habitats and climatic zones. All materials in the lesson have been reviewed appropriately and are suitable for teaching. This lesson has passed our science review credibility process.

Esta lección proporciona conocimientos elementales sobre el cambio climático y la conservación de la biodiversidad. Permite a los estudiantes identificar y clasificar animales con respecto a sus hábitats y zonas climáticas. Todos los materiales de la lección han sido revisados ​​apropiadamente y son adecuados para la enseñanza. Esta lección ha pasado nuestro proceso de credibilidad de revisión científica.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson creates a collaborative learning environment as students engage with a variety of modalities.
-The games and activities promote engagement and participation from all learners.
-The lesson introduces students to an authentic Spanish language story from Chile.
-The photographs of animals name the specific places where the animals live.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Students need no prior knowledge to complete the lesson.
-Teachers may wish to print the Teacher Slideshow to hang in the room to reinforce the concepts and vocabulary.
-Some students may find the “¿Dónde está mi clima” game upsetting if they are unable to find a climate that matches their assigned animal. Teachers can choose some students to role-play the activity in front of the class instead.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Teachers can easily expand the lesson to include short sentences and more active vocabulary.
-For the postcard activity, students can cut and paste phrases provided by the teacher or copy the words by hand.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students use geometry to investigate the question "How much would sea levels rise if Antarctica melted?"

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson explores calculating the amount of sea level rise from melting the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Students see a real-world application of geometry tied to an important consequence of climate change. All materials have been fact-checked, and the lesson is credible for teaching. Considerations not mentioned in this lesson plan include the impact that the Greenland Ice Sheet would be simultaneously contributing to sea level rise, and that half of the current sea level rise is due to the thermal expansion of water.

POSITIVES:
-Students see a real-world application of geometry tied to an important consequence of climate change.
-Students practice volume and surface area formulas.
-Teacher answer key is included.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Teacher needs to acquire some ice for the Inquire section.
-Students should have a general knowledge of climate change and sea level rise.
-Students should be familiar with the concepts of volume and surface area.
-Students should be familiar with imperial and metric units.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Higher-level classes can work out the steps of the problems independently, while lower-level classes can follow the steps on the Student Document and Teacher Slideshow from the beginning.
-The teacher can select one unit of measurement by editing the Student Document to use only meters and kilometers or to use only feet and miles.
-The teacher can use occasional check-ins. For example, the teacher could stop the class after Step 1 in the Investigate section. This would help make sure all groups have similar answers and are off to a good start with the problem.
-The teacher can select one resource in the Inspire section and explore the resource as a class instead of having the students explore the resources independently.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students explore critical media literacy and begin creating their advertisements.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson lets students understand the implication of advertisement in influencing green transportation. It is suitable to engage students to create advertisements so as to influence the adoption of green public transportation. All accompanying materials used in the lesson have been verified and validated. On that account, this lesson is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson features critical media literacy, an important skill for all students.
-This lesson supports collaboration amongst peers.
-Students explore real-world problems through project-based learning.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 5 of 6 in our 3rd-5th grade Green Transportation unit.
-The videos on slides 13-15 will automatically start and stop at the appropriate times.
-Students should understand how to read a rubric and use it as a guide for increasing their scores.
-The final lesson in this unit plan does not allow any more class time for students to create their advertisements. After this class is over, you could allow more class time for advertisement creation or ask students to finish their advertisements outside of class.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-You can break down the definition of critical media literacy.
-You can allot multiple days following this lesson for advertisement creation time based on students' needs.
-Some students may be using different technologies to create their advertisements (e.g., TikTok, Adobe Spark, Canva, etc.). It may take those students longer to finish their advertisements if they are also learning a new technology.

SYNOPSIS: This lesson features the final advertisement presentations and provides students with the opportunity to think about how to use these projects to make an impact in real life.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson gives students a chance to reflect on the power of advertisement and ways to engage the public to use the metro as a sustainable green transportation model. The materials used in the lesson have been verified and are accurate. Hence, this lesson is recommended for classroom use.

POSITIVES:
-Students explore real-world problems through project-based learning.
-Students practice oral presentation skills.
-Students practice giving constructive feedback to their peers.
-This lesson empowers students to continue their projects after the allotted class time has ended.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 6 of 6 in our 3rd-5th grade Green Transportation unit.
-You can review a code of conduct or guidelines for oral presentations prior to this lesson. This can include an introduction for how to be a prepared speaker and active listener.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-You may scaffold reflection questions with sentence frames.
-You can decide on alternative ways to conduct student presentations based on students' needs.
-Potential action projects for students are listed on slide 14 of the teacher slideshow.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students analyze videos about students challenging the government to protect natural resources, research why natural resources are a source of conflict, and create a video summarizing their findings.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson presents the public trust doctrine through two video resources and tasks students to produce their own videos that investigate how natural resources are a source of conflict. All of the materials are well-sourced, though the videos are a little out of date. The lesson also includes a list of credible sources to get students with their investigation. This lesson is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-Students use their unique voices and perspectives to communicate a complex topic.
-Students use their creativity and collaborative skills to create a video explaining their summary of the lesson.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-The resources from Project Look Sharp require a free login to download the materials.
-Laptops or other recording devices required.
-One-to-one technology is recommended.
-Students must have working knowledge of credible sources.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-The length of the student videos can be lengthened or shortened depending on student ability.
-Students can be placed in mixed ability groupings.
-The number of required citations can be increased or decreased depending on student ability.
-Optional Extension: Videos may be sent to local, state, or federal government to increase the likelihood of change being enacted.

SYNOPSIS: This lesson introduces students to stop motion animation and educates students on concerns about bird populations in New Jersey.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson incorporates stop motion animation art to deliver a message regarding the reduction of birds in New Jersey. All materials used in the lesson have been verified and are suitable for teaching. In this light, this lesson is credible and recommended for the classroom.

POSITIVES:
-Students practice research and collaboration skills throughout the lesson.
-Students take action by planning a stop motion animation to help protect New Jersey bird species.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 2 of 4 in our 3rd-5th grade Animate for the Animals unit.
-Students will need access to devices to complete the research task.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Student groups could be created by teachers to ensure everyone can access the activities.
-Teachers can support students by viewing the research sources beforehand to determine sources appropriate for lower-level readers.
-You may allow students to find their own sources when conducting research.

SYNOPSIS: In this final lesson in the air quality unit, students learn about vehicle idling, gather and interpret data, and take action at their school.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson introduces students to car idling. Then students research about it and design a program to include posters, bumper stickers, and school campaigns to raise awareness about car idling and its impact on air quality and the environment. All materials embedded in the lesson are thoroughly sourced. Accordingly, this lesson is recommended for classroom use.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson provides students with a concrete action plan to reduce emissions and improve health at their school.
-This lesson plan could create terrific climate and health conversations at home for many students and their families.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This lesson plan is listed as 90 minutes. This lesson may take less or more time depending on many factors, including the best time to observe vehicles at or near your school.
-If students are adamant about launching a full-fledged No Idling Campaign at their school, this lesson could become a class project that takes weeks, months, or even the entire school year.
-If your students choose to launch a full campaign, make sure to support them in their interactions with different stakeholders at school like teachers, administration, families, and bus drivers. Make sure to let the students take the lead.
-Make sure to remind students that walking and biking are zero carbon options. Perhaps the best outcome of this lesson is not fewer idling cars, but fewer overall cars.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Students are given three choices in the Inspire phase of this lesson: design a poster, create a bumper sticker, or launch a No Idling Campaign. Some students may want to pursue the schoolwide campaign while others may not. Perhaps you can form a smaller group of students to take this on if all the students are not interested.
-It may be difficult for students to arrive early or depart late from school depending on family circumstances.
-There may not be a good spot for you to observe vehicles at your school. If that's the case, perhaps you can walk with your students to a nearby intersection to observe traffic there.

In this lesson, students learn about plastic pollution and write a letter to a local official advocating for a solution to plastic pollution.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students complete the Anticipation Guide individually or in groups, responding to true or false prompts and answering one question about plastic pollution and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students conduct research on plastic pollution and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and complete the RACES writing organizer.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students write a letter to a local official advocating for action on plastic pollution.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn about plastic pollution and write a letter to a local official advocating for a solution to plastic pollution.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The impact of plastic pollution and how it ends up in the ocean is underscored in this lesson. The video, accompanying materials, and class activity will spur students to engage in ocean clean-up exercises and advocate for responsible consumption and bans for single-use plastic. All the materials in the lesson are well-cited, and this lesson has passed our science credibility process.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson empowers students to take concrete action by contacting a local official advocating for immediate action on plastic pollution.
-This lesson may debunk some myths about plastic pollution, including the importance of plastic straws in global plastic pollution.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-It is important for students to understand the global context of plastic recycling. Only 9% of global plastic is recycled. The rest is mismanaged, landfilled, or incinerated.
-It is also important for students to understand that more than half of oceanic plastic pollution is made up of discarded fishing gear. While much emphasis is placed on individual behavior change (e.g., replacing plastic bags with canvas bags, carrying a reusable water bottle, etc.), one can argue that the best individual action you can take is to reduce or eliminate seafood consumption. This would decrease fishing in the oceans and the amount of discarded fishing gear dumped in the ocean.
-Students may find the answers to only some of the true/false questions on the Anticipation Guide by the time you reveal the answers at the end of the Investigate section. That is OK. You can still reveal the answers and move on.
-When students are drafting their letters to local officials, make sure they know that Oregon's single-use plastic bag ban went into effect on January 1, 2020. There is no need to advocate for banning single-use plastic bags, as that is already the law in Oregon.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Some of the suggested resources in the Investigate section are more complex and might be better for higher-level students. These include Our World in Data’s Plastic Pollution website, the video titled How Much Plastic Is in the Ocean?, and the video titled Trash Island: Is It a Myth?
-When revealing the answers to the Anticipation Guide, you may have students tally their correct answers. The student with the most correct answers from the beginning of the lesson can be declared the winner.
-One possible extension is for students to draw a simple map of their local waterway and its path to the Pacific Ocean. Students can include a paragraph about how trash travels in waterways and describe a land-based solution to help prevent trash from entering waterways.
-There are ways to extend or adapt the Inspire section of this lesson. Here are some suggestions:
-Students can mail or hand-deliver their letters to local officials.
-Students can deliver a speech at a local government event (e.g., a city council meeting) advocating for more action on plastic pollution.
-Students can write letters to state or federal officials instead of local officials.
-Students can advocate for systemic change in their schools. Ideas include banning some or all single-use plastic packaging in the cafeteria, removing vending machines from school that sell beverages in single-use bottles, or changing school policies regarding birthdays or holidays such as Halloween or Valentine’s Day (e.g., banning single-use plastic candy, banning cheap plastic toys, banning balloons, etc.).
-Students can educate teachers or students in other grades about the problem of plastic pollution through speeches or posters displayed in common spaces throughout the school.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students make personal connections to fire, understand how climate change is making wildfires worse in Oregon and across the globe, and create a wildfire solution presentation to promote a prevention or preparation strategy.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson allows students to learn about the causes of wildfire and how they are induced by climate change. It also highlights locations at risk to wildfires in Oregon and ways students can develop tactics to promote effective management of wildfire events. The archival data on wildfires will enable them to interpret wildfire hotspots for contingency planning. This lesson is very engaging and is recommended for classroom use.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson can be taught in a language arts class or a science class.
-Students make a personal connection to fire before learning about climate change’s impact on wildfires.
-Students promote a prevention or preparation strategy to share with their class, school, or community.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-It would be helpful for students to have some background knowledge of what makes fire burn. The resources Heat and Fuel and Oxygen can provide more context for students.
-The data in the sortable table titled, Oregon Biggest Fires, comes from this article. You can access the data by clicking, “Download the data.”

DIFFERENTIATION:
-If teachers want to provide more context on active fires in Oregon, this map provides up-to-date information.
-This video can provide additional information and also serve as inspiration for students to create their own presentations.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students research nuclear energy and advocate for its expansion or contraction in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Students form policy proposals and compromise on the best path forward.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson enables students to understand the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy, particularly the fission process. They would also analyze the best energy plans and develop policy proposals that would achieve the Paris goal and address climate change. All activities and materials have been fact-checked, and this lesson is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-Students explore a topic that is relevant but may not be part of their daily routine.
-Students collaborate in research and discussion.
-Students have the opportunity to choose what to research.
-Students have the opportunity to discuss opposing arguments in a civil and productive way. Students must listen to one another to compromise on an energy policy.
-This lesson provides a grading rubric.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Students can design local, national, or global policy proposals.
-Allow students to discuss freely and independently; offer guidance only when students appear off track or stuck.
-Make sure everyone has an opportunity to contribute to each group conversation.
-It may be necessary to coach your students on how to be a respectful listener. This includes making eye contact and refraining from looking at screens.
-This lesson can be split into multiple sessions or days. Parts of this lesson can also be assigned to be completed outside of regular class time.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-The extent of student research and detail in policy planning can be adjusted to student skill level.
-If your class has 24 students, you may have eight groups of students. Four of the groups would advocate for expanding nuclear energy capacity, and four of the groups would advocate for reducing nuclear energy capacity.
-It may be necessary to ask some students to take opposing viewpoints in order to have a balanced class. For example, if 19 of your 24 students want to expand nuclear energy capacity, some of them will have to switch sides in order to create more balance. It may be helpful to emphasize the fact that people with strong debating skills can argue both sides of any argument.

SYNOPSIS: This lesson introduces students to the effects of climate change on animals and their habitats.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson allows students to understand what habitat means and how organisms interact within their range. Students would also be able to classify animals into different habitats, explore the impact of climate change on biodiversity in different ecosystems, and proffer ways to reduce these impacts. All the accompanying materials in the lesson are well-sourced, and this lesson has passed our science credibility review.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson opens up a conversation to discuss climate change through the topics of animals, which younger students can understand.
-This lesson allows students to practice using their agency and voice to make a change in their world.
-This lesson could be extended into a larger research project on specific animals and their habitats.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Students may need to review the vocabulary term habitat.
-Students may benefit from a cause and effect lesson prior to this lesson.
-A lesson on observational drawings and analyzing photography could be beneficial for some learners.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-The observation and chart assignments are naturally differentiated due to the inclusion of drawings and/or words. Students can draw or write depending on their level.
-Vocabulary word cards could be used for students who need assistance with vocabulary comprehension.
-Student groups/partners could be picked based on ability level or mixed ability level depending on the purpose of instruction.
-Students could complete the drawings or letters in a digital format as well.
-These articles could be utilized to expand the non-fiction article reading component for students who are able:
-How Does Climate Change Affect the Ocean?
-Learning about Climate from Oceans

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students explore increased precipitation and sea level rise in New Jersey and advocate for a climate adaptation strategy.

SCIENTIST NOTES: In this lesson, students will learn the basics of sea level rise and extreme rainfall and how that specifically is impacting New Jersey. They will also be introduced to a variety of ideas and technology to combat the increased flooding due to these things. Finally, they will be inspired to take action and propose an idea that will benefit their local community. All the videos have been reviewed for accuracy. The two mapping tools also explain where they are getting their data from. This resource is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson can be used in English, social studies, or science classes.
-Students are given voice and choice in this lesson.
-Students become agents of change in their own communities.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Students should be familiar with the basics of climate change and sea level rise.
-Students will be advocating for climate adaptation strategies. Climate adaptation strategies are ways humans are adapting to a changing climate. This is different from climate mitigation, which are ways humans are slowing down climate change. Climate mitigation strategies include reducing fossil fuel use and ending deforestation.
-The first two videos in the Investigate section will autoplay only the segment of the video that pertains to this lesson.
-How Climate Change Has Intensified Hurricane Season will play from 02:59-03:36.
-Thermal Expansion & Sea Level Rise will play from 01:27-02:54.
-The Investigate section features six different resources. These resources (four videos, one map, and one podcast) should not take that much time individually.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Students' communication can be as simple or as thorough as you desire. They will need more time to research and craft their communication if you want their writing to be more fact-based and robust.
-Some students may wish to communicate their advocacy via social media. Make sure to follow all school rules and monitor students' progress if you allow this in the classroom.
-Allow students to pursue other methods of communication, adaptation strategies, and recipients not listed in the chart in the Inspire section.
-In certain situations, it may be best to allow students to teach their family and friends about increased precipitation and sea level rise. This could be used as a replacement activity instead of student communication to government and business leaders.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn about the Indigenous first foods of Oregon, discuss the connection between food and climate change, and take action to improve their personal health and the health of the planet.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson allows students to explore the history of the Indigenous Peoples of Oregon and how they coped with their food systems under the past and present climate. It also underscores the impact of food production on the climate, how their food choices influence human and environmental health, and proposes strategic measures to mitigate emissions from the food sector and food choices that could improve human and environmental health. All the materials were reviewed, and this lesson has passed our science credibility process.

POSITIVES:
-Students learn about the Indigenous Peoples of Oregon and their food traditions.
-Students feel empowered to make food choices that are better for the planet.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Students should have some awareness of climate change and how it is affecting the Earth. Teacher can show the video Introduction to Climate Change before the lesson.
-Students should be aware that the Indigenous Peoples of Oregon are the original people of Oregon and that European settlers stole land that belonged to the Indigenous Peoples.
-When students fill out the food tracker, teacher may need to explain that “kg” is short for kilogram, that a kilogram is a kind of measurement, and that 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds.
-Keep in mind that students in elementary school often have little to no control over their food choices. Be sensitive to the fact that some students will have less access to more climate-friendly foods, and try to encourage students to make climate-friendly food choices when they have the opportunity to do so.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-The Inquire section offers a variety of ways for students to learn about the Indigenous Peoples of Oregon and Indigenous first foods. Students can research the topic independently using the sources provided, read specific passages from the texts in small groups, or follow along as the texts are read aloud.
-Students can use the bar graph in the Investigate section of the Teacher Slideshow to explore why some foods are worse for the planet than others. Students can pick one food and research the number of resources needed to grow, harvest, or produce the food. Students can work individually or with a partner.
-Students can use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast one Indigenous Oregonian food with a food they eat. For example, students can explore the process of how salmon from the Columbia River and farm-raised salmon from the local grocery store make it to a student’s plate. Alternatively, students can draw the process and use arrows in between each stage.
-Using the Connecting First Foods and Conservation resource from the Inquire section, students can write the origin story for a native food from their own cultural or ethnic background.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students will analyze Amanda Gorman's poem "Earthrise" and write their own poetry.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson introduces students to basic literary techniques and how to use poetry skills to communicate climate change and solutions to a diverse audience. There is no science to verify, but the resources, accompanying materials, and links in the lesson are credible and ideal for teaching. This lesson has passed our review.

POSITIVES:
-Amanda Gorman is a brilliant poet.
-Students will engage in lively group discussions. This poem is abundant in deep meaning and rhyme.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-Before class, share the following with your students:
-Student Slideshow. All students need editing rights, as they will be writing in the same slideshow.
-Full Text of the Poem "Earthrise." Students will need viewing rights.
-Student Document. Each student needs their own copy, as they will be writing their own poem on this document.
-Amanda Gorman is most famous for performing "The Hill We Climb" at Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration on January 20, 2021.
-Amanda Gorman delivered a TED talk called "Using Your Voice is a Political Choice."

DIFFERENTIATION:
-You can select students of all abilities to read part of the poem after you have watched the video.
-The six stanzas selected for group discussion are of various lengths. They range from 6 lines to 19 lines. You can assign weaker students to the shorter stanzas.
-You can create groups of mixed abilities.
-Students who like to take notes can be scribes in their groups.
-Students may be unfamiliar with some of the vocabulary in “Earthrise.”
-Students should use the two linked dictionaries on the resources slide to find definitions of unfamiliar words.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students engage in activities and experiments to explore the concept of physical changes, and apply their learning to understand climate change-induced sea level rise.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson introduces students to the physical changes of state from solid-liquid-gaseous phase. All materials, including artcicles and simulations, are well-sourced and relevant to improve students' ability in understanding the impact of physical changes in ice caps and its ambient environment and how they could take action to limit these changes. This lesson has passed our science credibility process and is recommended for teaching.

Positive

-Students work collaboratively in groups and with partners to share diverse ideas and perspectives.
-Students participate in hands-on learning to aid in understanding and participation.
-Students learn through a variety of pathways including kinesthetic, auditory, visual, etc. to engage with different learning.
-Students are given a variety of optional extensions to create the most meaningful change in their communities.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-It is recommended that teachers use this as a multi-day lesson in 5 parts. Use the Multi-Day Schedule Visual to determine appropriate stopping points for each day.
-Materials needed for the Physical Change Activity include the following:
-Ice
-Cup
-Playdough (one container per group)
-Different shaped cookie cutters (two per group)
-Materials needed for each group for the Investigate section experiment include the following:
-Two identical, clear, plastic containers (e.g., 6x6 inches)
-Clay, playdough, or small rocks
-Tray of ice cubes
-Ruler
-Cold water
-Piece of paper
-Permanent marker (optional)
-Materials may be substituted as necessary
-Students must create free accounts on the CK-12 website to participate in the simulations.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-All activities, experiments, and simulations can be completed in differentiated groups or as demonstrations at the discretion of the teacher.
-The article may be read aloud in groups or as a class to aid in understanding at the discretion of the teacher.
-Student Document questions may be completed individually, in mixed ability groups, or as a whole group led by the teacher.
-Videos may be paused and discussed in short segments.
-As noted in the TED video, the economic influences on climate change cannot be ignored. An extension to this lesson may be to include a social studies educator to teach students about the local economic elements and issues that contribute to climate change.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn about science experiments, design and execute an experiment to learn about what plants need to survive, and communicate their findings to others.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson allows students to use scientific method to inquire about how different plants can survive across fresh water, salt water, and brackish water. It allows students to investigate the changes and predict the water conditions required for plants to survive. All images, videos, and accompanying materials featured in the lesson have been reviewed. This lesson has passed our science review process.

POSITIVES:
-Students engage in many of the Next Generation Science Standards Science and Engineering Practices.
-Students have the opportunity to develop and execute an experiment.
-Students use both sketching and writing as observational tools.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 3 of 4 in our K-2nd grade Water and Plant Survival unit.
-You will need the following materials for activity in the Inquire section:
-1-liter pitcher of plain water
-1-liter pitcher of water with about 2 teaspoons of salt dissolved
-1-liter pitcher of water with about 6 teaspoons of salt dissolved
-A small cup for each student
-You will need the following materials for the pre-filled experiment in the Investigate section:
-3-6 plants (choose one type of plant, 1-2 plants will receive freshwater, 1-2 plants will receive brackish water, and 1-2 plants will receive saltwater)
-A measuring cup
-A sunny location
-The Inspire section of this lesson builds on Lesson 2 of the Water and Plant Survival unit. The mural will be completed in Lesson 4. If you are choosing to only complete this lesson, you may wish to show students this video from Lesson 2 and discuss how they can create a class mural without creating it on a large scale.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-You can choose the scientist video in the Investigate section that is the best fit for your students. Options include Sesame Street: Bouncing Balls or A Study in Stream Ecology. The Teacher Slideshow includes slides with questions specific to each video.
-The Investigate section offers several options for experimentation. Each option will provide students with the understanding needed to complete subsequent lessons in the unit. The three options include:
-Students may create their own experiment, with teacher support.
-Students may participate in an experiment where the procedure is provided.
-Students can look at data collected from an experiment and discuss the findings.

SYNOPSIS: This lesson introduces students to the benefits of an aquaponics system, especially in areas where clean soil and water are scarce.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson demonstrates the importance of sustainable agriculture and how gardening without soil can provide positive results. This is a hands-on activity for students to engage in gardening. Aquaculture and hydroponics are discussed in good detail. All the materials featured in the lesson have been verified, and this lesson is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson creates a collaborative learning environment as students engage with a variety of science and engineering practices.
-Connections are made between the school garden in NJ and other locations where gardening may be difficult for a variety of environmental reasons.
-Project-based learning and hands-on activities promote engagement and participation from all learners.
-This lesson features vocabulary development which broadens student understanding of the concept of aquaponics.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-The lesson takes ~60 minutes, but students will continue 10-15 minutes one day a week for recording observations in their digital or paper journals.
-Students will need a basic understanding of what seeds and plants need to grow and produce food.
-Additionally, students would benefit from an opportunity to plant seeds in soil and observe the life cycle from seed germination to food production prior to this lesson.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-If teaching remotely, students can have access to teacher slides and digital resources, including journals to participate from home.
-This lesson provides opportunities for students to learn about the topic using different modalities including visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile.
-Groups of students with mixed abilities can collaborate on their journal definitions, predictions, and observations.
-Teachers can structure the learning around explaining or solving a social or community-based issue.
-An extension activity can be a salad party. After lettuce grows, students will have the opportunity to pick, wash, and taste their own lettuce.