2. ALL Climate Action Analysis Student Sheets
3. P2, L5: En-ROADS Instruction Sheet
4. P2, L6: Final Product Instruction & Assessment Sheet
Student Climate Assembly Phase 2: Analyze and Recommend Local Climate Actions
Overview
Phase 2: Action Analysis and Recommendations
In Phase 2, students apply the STEEP framework to analyze climate actions, focusing on evaluating policies and government actions, addressing C4.11-12.2 (analyzing ways of influencing governments to promote the common good). This phase is about structured analysis rather than deliberation.
More specifically, students will conduct in-depth research to analyze actions proposed by local or state decision makers, identify the most promising ideas and proposals, develop well-reasoned recommendations, and create compelling presentations. This phase emphasizes critical thinking, effective communication, and persuasive writing. Through their participation in this phase students:
- Become familiar with local climate change efforts and actions by government officials.
- Research climate actions and policies at either the local, regional, or state level. Identify which actions and proposals they are most interested in analyzing.
- Analyze and prepare a recommendation for a proposed action, using a multipronged framework of analysis.
- Prepare a presentation to communicate their analysis and recommendation to their classmates and teacher.
Overview of Phase 2 Lesson Plans
| Local Governments and Climate Action Plans In this lesson, students will explore the roles and responsibilities of local and county governments in Washington state in addressing climate change through Climate Action Plans (CAPs). They will learn about the structure and purpose of CAPs and how local governments use them to set goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Students will engage in a lecture and discussion to deepen their understanding of local government functions. They will then develop questions for local officials to better understand climate actions. Finally, students will choose a specific action from their local CAP to research and analyze, preparing for a presentation by local city officials. This knowledge will support them in making informed recommendations about local climate actions. |
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| City Officials and Climate Action In this lesson, students continue exploring the role of local and city governments in addressing climate change by engaging with a local government official. They will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about the structure and function of local government, current climate policies, and the city's Climate Action Plan (CAP). Through listening, note-taking, and asking prepared questions, students will gain insights into how local governments tackle climate challenges. Following the presentation, students will debrief in groups to discuss key takeaways, reflect on how the new information affects their understanding of climate action, and identify how they might engage with local efforts. This interaction will deepen their analysis and prepare them for future climate action recommendations. |
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| STEEP Analysis - Day 1 In this lesson, students formally begin working on the final product and set the stage for the rest of the unit. They will start by reviewing the presentation from the local officials and gaining insights into local climate initiatives. Following this, students will be introduced to the STEEP analysis framework, using their climate action analysis sheets to evaluate different climate action plans. Teachers will guide students in exploring each component of the analysis, starting with socio-cultural and economic factors, emphasizing concepts like climate justice and the green premium. Students will define these concepts, practice applying them, and discuss their impact on climate action and the information they will need to seek. If time permits, students will also have the opportunity to begin planning their approach for the rest of the unit. |
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| STEEP Analysis - Day 2 In this lesson, students will continue their work on the STEEP analysis by focusing on the technological, environmental, and policy components. They will review the key elements of each component through direct instruction and discussion then apply these insights to their selected climate action. The lesson includes guided lecture sections, where students will take notes and ask questions to solidify their understanding. By the end of the lesson, students should be able to identify how these factors impact their climate action and begin filling in their Action Analysis Note Sheets. |
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| STEEP Analysis - Day 3 In this lesson, students will finalize their climate action analysis by using the STEEP framework (social, technological, economic, environmental, and political). They will critically evaluate their selected climate action and determine whether it should be amended, partially rejected, or fully implemented based on their findings. Utilizing tools like the EN-ROADS climate simulator, students will assess the real-world impact of various climate actions on their local community. Following their analysis, students will develop a recommendation, supported by strong evidence and justification, which they will present to the Student Climate Assembly. Over the course of two to three days, students will work through these steps, ensuring their recommendations are well-supported and contextually relevant. |
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| Developing the Final Product This lesson is a continuation of the previous day's work on climate action analysis and recommendations. The primary focus is on completing and refining the final product, which will be presented to both small groups and the full class. Students will use their STEEP analysis from Lesson 5 to create a presentation that clearly outlines their recommended climate action, supported by strong evidence and justification. They will review the presentation instructions, rubrics, and examples to ensure their work is well-organized and meets all requirements. By the end of this lesson, students will be prepared to present their recommendations during the Student Climate Assembly. |
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Attribution and License
Attribution
This resource was developed by Pacific Education Institute for the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Deliberative Democratic Climate Change Education Program.
Project Leads: Lisa Eschenbach, David Ketter
Instructional Materials Author: Fernando Reyes, Ryan Hauck
Thank you to the following educators who contributed to planning, development, and material review:
Steven Ayers, Ryan Hauck, Christie Ryba-Johnson and Eric Wickwire
The Washington Social Studies Learning Standards by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction are available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Graphic design by Julianna Patterson.
This work was funded by the Washington State Legislature and administered by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
License
Except where otherwise noted, Washington Student Climate Assembly: Climate Change in the Civics Classroom, copyright Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, is available under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All logos, trademarks, and video are property of their respective owners. Sections used under fair use doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 107) are marked.
This resource may contain links to websites operated by third parties. These links are provided for your convenience only and do not constitute or imply any endorsement or monitoring by OSPI. If lessons in this work are adapted, note the substantive changes and re-title, removing any Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction logos.