Exploros | Facing Environmental Challenges

Overview

In this experience, students choose one young environmental hero to describe. Then they read about an environmental challenge and analyze the causes and effects. Next they research an environmental problem, focusing on causes, effects, and possible solutions. Then they brainstorm possible solutions and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of their three best ideas. Finally they propose a solution and evaluate it.

Students will collaborate in small groups for scene 2 to scene 4.

There is no quiz at the end of this experience.

Strategies for teaching this experience:

Emphasis on problem-solving processes: Work with students on how to brainstorm options, choose the most promising, and evaluate advantages and disadvantages.
Emphasis on writing process: Emphasize the five steps of the writing process and have students publish an argumentative text about the environmental challenge and their proposed solution.
Emphasis on science: Combine the “Identify the Challenge” scene with hands-on experiments about one or more of the challenges presented: wetlands, wildfires, and fossil fuels.
Implement a service project: The Teacher Pack includes an EPA booklet with examples of service projects implemented by schools around the country. Together with your class, implement a service project related to one of the environmental challenges.

Estimated duration: Varies depending on strategy for teaching

Vocabulary word:

intensified

Objectives

Identify intensified natural disasters and environmental challenges resulting from human activity.
Research a specific environmental challenge and propose a solution.

Engage

You might have heard discussions or news shows about the need to save the environment. You might have heard phrases like Paris Accord, carbon footprint, climate change, or glacier collapse. In this experience, you will focus on an environmental problem that affects communities in the United States.

Objectives

Identify intensified natural disasters and environmental challenges resulting from human activity.
Research a specific environmental challenge and propose a solution.

a polar bear standing on a small block of ice surrounded by the sea

Climate change is melting arctic sea ice and threatening the habitat of polar bears.

Some environmental problems are so big that you may wonder how you as an elementary school student can make a difference. Look at one of the following articles to read about kids who are taking action.

Choose one of these young activists. Write a sentence explaining what he or she is doing to help and why you chose that particular person.

Post your answer

Ask for volunteers to explain their choices.

The Student Pack includes a Ted Talk video by teen activist Greta Thunberg.

Divide students into their small groups for the next three scenes. When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.