Climate Science Activities:
Fold and Forecast Elementary Outline
Key Subjects: Science. Math
Grade Level: K-5
The students will use paper airplanes to mimic forecasts and how climate models work. This is a great analogy to introduce students to climate models, the importance of forecasts in their everyday lives, and how fun climate forecasting is!
Key Subjects: Science, Social Studies
Grade Level: 6-8
Using a soccer game as an analogy, this lesson illustrates the greenhouse effect and how human actions have caused an extreme warming of our planet. There is an interactive ecological footprint calculator activity for the students to see their individual impact on greenhouse gas emissions. A great emphasis is put on not shaming anyone’s personal footprint instead talking about how collectively we can work towards making sustainable changes and combatting climate change!
Hurricanes in NYC Middle School Outline
Key Subjects: Science, Social Studies
Grade Level: 6-8
Hurricanes in NYC High School Outline
Key Subjects: Science, Social Studies, Political Science
Grade Level: 9-12
The students will learn about the science behind how hurricanes are formed, how global warming will impact hurricanes, and look at the impacts hurricanes have on cities. Looking specifically at the New York City area, students will use GIS maps to see how different communities are vulnerable to extreme weather events and to think critically about why that may be. The maps use socioeconomic data and flood hazard data provided by the EPA and NYC Department of Planning. This is a great activity for students to practice data interpretation, decision-making, and critical thinking!
Climate Communication Activities:
Key Subjects: Science, Psychology
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Decision making and communication skills are key for science. This activity allows students to work together to present information specifically framed to their audience using biases and heuristics. This lesson is an important exercise for students to learn that conducting great research is necessary, but knowing how to communicate the research to the general public is an essential skill so the research can be used by policymakers and organizations.
Climate Adaptation Activities:
Key Subjects: Science, English, Art, Graphic Design
Grade Level:6-8, 9-12
A creative writing activity that allows students to explore how the world change under different climates. These climates can be entirely possible like a much warmer planet or impossible like if the Earth did not rotate. Students can imagine alternative realities and how society would be altered in a creative way.
Imagining the Future City Middle School Outline
Key Subjects: Science, English, Social Studies, Art
Grade Level: 6-8
Imagining the Future City High School Outline
Key Subjects: Science, English, Social Studies, Art, Economics
Grade Level: 9-12
Imagining the Future City allows students to be creative while also considering the social factors of a city. For high school students, socioeconomic conditions can be incorporated into the activity. Students draw their ideal sustainable city after hearing about the impacts of climate change using whatever materials they want. Some students will focus more on certain aspects like transportation or infrastructure than others and this activity allows students to share their dreams about a better city with others.
FIST: Index Insurance Activities:
To Farm or Not to Farm Middle School Outline
Key Subjects: Science, Statistics, Math
Grade Level: 6-8
This activity is a great way to showcase how insurance products work and are developed by replicating the exact activity the index insurance FIST team at the IRI uses with farmers. This activity shows students that climate science and data can be collected through fun games while teaching important skills about risk and probability.