Civics Lesson:
YOUth Action
Grades 3-5
≅70 minutes
Primary Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) |
D4.6.3-5 Draw on disciplinary concepts to explain the challenges people have faced and opportunities they have created, in addressing local, regional, and global problems at various times and places. |
D4.7.3-5 Explain different strategies and approaches students and others could take in working alone and together to address local, regional, and global problems, and predict possible results of their actions. |
Common Core ELA |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1, 4.1, 5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.4 With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose. |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. |
Essential Questions
How does climate change impact local environmental issues?
1
2
3
How do activists share their ideas with others?
What makes the messages of youth activists powerful and effective?
Learning Outcomes
I can identify actions and challenges that youth climate activists face about environmental issues.
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2
3
I can research and take notes on youth climate activists.
I can write a paragraph explaining a climate change impact on my local environment.
Agenda
INQUIRE
INVESTIGATE
INSPIRE
Inquire
≅10 minutes
climate change
long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns
How do you feel about
climate change?
What concerns do you have
about our environment?
Optional sentence starters:
Concerns that I have about the environment are...
This concerns me because...
Think, Pair, Share
What are some things you feel like you can do about your concerns?
Optional sentence starters:
One thing I feel like I can do is…
I don’t feel like I can…
This is because...
Think, Pair, Share
Can you relate to these numbers?
Who else is concerned?
A global survey conducted across 10 different countries in 2021 found:
Don’t lose hope!
We all have the ability to create change at any age.
These are really big feelings that can sometimes be really scary.
Investigate
≅30 minutes
activist
a person who uses or supports strong actions (such as public protests) to help make changes in politics or society
What are others doing to create change in their local communities?
Let’s Investigate
Watch and learn about youth activists to identify what inspired them and how they’re taking action and creating change in their communities.
OPTION 1: Youth Activists + Research
(suited for older students)
Listen to Yamile’s story from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What issue was Yamile concerned about and why was it important to her community?
What actions did she take and how did it make a difference?
What challenges did she face and how did she overcome them?
Turn and Talk
How did this inspire you?
Is there a local issue that we can relate to?
Turn and Talk
Keep Investigating!
OPTION 2: Read Aloud & Discuss
OPTION 1: Youth Activists Research
OPTION 1: Youth Activists Research
Continue watching other youth activists to identify what inspired them and how they’re taking action and creating change in their communities.
OPTION 2: Read Aloud & Discuss
How is the environment in the activist’s region different from where you live?
How might that change the way they approach climate action?
If you could ask one of the youth activists a question about their work, what would it be?
Class Discussion
Inspire
≅30 minutes
Let’s Brainstorm!
[insert student ideas here]
What environmental issues do we have?
Let’s Brainstorm!
[insert student ideas here]
Actions we can take
[insert student ideas here]
Challenges we might face
Pick one issue and write a paragraph.
Explain why this issue is important to you and one action you can take.
Share your paragraph with a partner.
Share your journey with us!
@subjecttoclimate
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Creators & Collaborators
Please leave this slide for attribution.
Authors
Scientist Reviewer
Monica Lilley
Lindsey Pockl
Archibong Akpan, PhD
Image Resources