I.

General Information
Teacher: Pete Kohnen
Grade Level: 11 and 12
Number of Students: 25
Unit: Ethics and Environmental Impact of Humans
Lesson 4: Introduction to climate change
Approximate Length: 60 min

Targeted Benchmarks:
Students will:
Critically examine evidence for human influenced climate change
Begin to formulate an informed opinion on how much impact on global climate
human activities have had and are potentially having.

NGSS Addressed:

HS-ESS3-2: Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and

utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios

II. Summary of Lesson

Summary: The lessons going to start off by discussing the homework from the previous
lesson. Ill then make my own bold statement (not really that bold) saying that we are on
the verge of an environmental catastrophe. Then the students will search for evidence to
support or refute my statement. After the research portion, well discuss the evidence as it
relates to the statement. Afterwards, they will be presented with an article that I choose
(there will be a couple different ones so students wont all have the same reading. Class
will end with a brief discussion if time permits and they will have an critical reflection for
homework for the weekend.

III. Sequence of Activities

1 Bellwork Thoughts on bold statement assignment (10 min)

2 Research question: Are we on the verge of an environmental catastrophe? (10 min)

3 Discussion of evidence found (20 min)

4 Reading of preselected article (15 min)

5 Closing discussion: Thoughts on article. Homework will be a critical reflection on the

article. (Remainder of class time)

IV. Instructional Standards Comments

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High Order Thinking:

Deep Knowledge:

Substantive Conversation: First, they will discuss some of the bold statements made
from the previous class and evaluate their merits. Then students will be having evidence
based discussions based on their findings and on the selected readings.

Connections to the World Beyond the Classroom:

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