This 16-page report explains climate change in a way that most people can understand, using illustrations, infographics, and graphs to help readers understand the content.
It details how our climate has changed, how we know it is our actions that are to blame, and what is needed to stop it.
The report summarizes the findings of the first part of the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report on climate change and was updated in 2022.
This report is a fantastic tool for introducing students to the science of climate change.
The report is intended for a general audience, answering complex questions like "How do we know climate change is happening?" by starting with an explanation of the greenhouse effect.
The report discusses various topics, including climate models, extreme weather, and natural variability.
Additional Prerequisites
It is important to note that this report only addresses how to limit climate change from a physical science perspective. The second and third reports address climate adaptation and other mitigation and emissions reduction efforts, respectively.
The report can be downloaded and used offline.
Differentiation
Since the report contains many of the basics of climate science, it may be helpful for students to have a copy to refer back to as they continue to learn about climate change.
Although it is only a summary, this report still contains a lot of technical information. Therefore, have students read through the report in sections and then discuss it as a class.
Younger students can read the report as a class, with additional support from the teacher or the use of vocabulary terms and a graphic organizer.
As an extension, have more advanced students research and write about whether their government's climate change policies align with the findings presented in the report.
Have students watch this video to learn more about the IPCC before reading the paper.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.