Province: British Columbia

Learning Objectives

Students will:
-Demonstrate ability to interpret metaphors
-Describe the factors contributing to climate change
-Make connections between human behaviour and
environmental changes

Teaching Process

Warm Up

Ask students if they have heard of global warming or of climate change.
What effects might this have on us?
On the plants and animals around us?
What is causing climate change?
What can stop it?
Tell students that you have many of the causes and many of the solutions to climate change in your grab bag.

The Activity

1. Gather students to stand in a circle.
Explain to them that you will invite certain people to take an item out of the bag. They may not look in the bag before they put their hand it (this adds to the anticipation and excitement). When they have taken their object out they are to look at it, hold it up and state what it is.

2. When all the items are out of the bag, quickly review all of them.

3. Ask the students holding the objects if they have any thoughts on how their particular object might be connected to climate change.
If a student has no idea, ask other members of the group/class to contribute their ideas.

4. When all the metaphors have been identified, group them into causes of climate change and solutions for climate change.
Try to reconstruct the climate change story – fossil fuels and over-consumption causing a rise in temperatures, what’s being affected, what can be done to solve the problem.

5. Ask students to contribute any other knowledge they may have about the reasons for climate change.
Invite them to offer more ideas on ways to slow or halt global warming.

Teachers Notes

*See grab bag suggestions on pages 4-5 in the lesson plan attachment

Assessment/Evaluation

Have students:

-Select and write about one metaphor from each category – causes, what’s being affected and solutions.

-Create a skit or short play about the causes, effects and solutions of climate change.

-Give three examples of actions that could be taken at school to reduce their individual carbon contribution.